What is a logic model primarily used for in program evaluation?

• A. To describe the theoretical framework only
• B. To compile budget
• C. To map inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes to assess effectiveness.
• D. To measure client satisfaction

Answer: (C)

A logic model helps evaluators see how a program is supposed to work by laying out the sequence from resources to results. It identifies inputs (funding, staff, materials), activities (what the program actually does), outputs (the immediate products like sessions held or participants served), and outcomes (short-, mid-, and long-term changes in participants or conditions). This structure makes the causal pathway and the underlying assumptions explicit, so you know what to measure, when to measure it, and how to test whether activities produce the intended outputs and whether those outputs lead to the desired outcomes. It’s not just about budgeting or measuring client satisfaction; it’s a planning and evaluation tool that clarifies how change is expected to happen and guides data collection and communication with stakeholders. For example, in a job-readiness program, you’d link resources to activities (career coaching), to outputs (resume reviews, mock interviews), to outcomes (more job placements).