Outcomes, Outputs & Outcomes, Outputs & ContextContextTammy Horne, Ph.D. WellQuest Consulting Ltd. (780) 451-6145thorne@wellquestconsulting.comwww.wellquestconsulting.com

Goals and ObjectivesGoals and Objectives

Goal: Broad, general statement of purpose

e.g., Improve the health of children in our community

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Goals and ObjectivesGoals and ObjectivesObjective: Desired outcomes, stated

in advance, are often called outcome objectives

e.g., Reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies born in our region

(Activities designed to influence the outcome objective are sometimes called process objectives)

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Writing Outcome Writing Outcome ObjectivesObjectives• State only one result per objective

(e.g., ‘increase knowledge and skills’ is not one outcome objective, but two)

• Focus on the result (participants learn, improve), not what you do (provide, promote)

• What you do is the process; what results is the outcome

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Writing Outcome Writing Outcome ObjectivesObjectives

Include direction – increase, decrease, maintain – and time frame

Decide if you need a target and if one is realistic – based on research or experience:

“Increase youth representation on our tobacco reduction coalition” vs “Increase youth representation on our tobacco reduction coalition to 50% of the membership”

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Writing Outcome Writing Outcome ObjectivesObjectivesWhen writing outcome objectives, make them SMART:

Specific (Can we clearly define what we are looking for?)

Measurable (Can we develop specific questions and procedures for data collection -- whether quantitative or qualitative?)

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Writing Outcome Writing Outcome ObjectivesObjectives Actionable (Can we do anything

to influence it?)

Relevant (Is it a “need to know” or a “nice to know”?)

Timely (Do we need it now? Can we get data for it now?)The SMART acronym has been used in a number of evaluation resources – e.g., Centre for Health Promotion at University of Toronto (1998) Evaluating Health Promotion Programs.

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Outcomes vs Outputs Outcomes vs Outputs An outcome is usually a change-

oriented result (may sometimes be maintenance – such as mobility or cognitive functioning)

An output is a program ‘product’ or ‘deliverable’ – such as number of participants, workshops/classes/events offered, resources produced, or distributed, meetings attended, etc.

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Outcomes vs Outputs Outcomes vs Outputs Examples of outputs could be: •# of promotional activities (e.g., media)•# of referrals given or accepted•# of workshops/classes/counselling sessions •# of people attending (the above)•# of resource materials distributed (manuals, self-help materials)

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Outcomes vs Outputs Outcomes vs Outputs Sometimes there is a grey area:

Attendance is usually an output -- but it could be an outcome if people have barriers to attending – then attendance could represent behaviour change

Outputs are sometimes called process indicators (more on indicators later)

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Our Scope of InfluenceOur Scope of InfluenceRealistically, how much influence do

our programs have?

What is feasible within your time frame and resources?

It is more realistic to influence specific outcome objectives than a broad goal to which numerous outcomes contribute

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Our Scope of InfluenceOur Scope of InfluenceShort and intermediate outcomes are

easier to influence directly, compared to longer-term outcomes that are more likely influenced by other factors

E.g., skills and confidence people develop for quitting smoking, and short-term quitting, are easier to influence than how long they remain a non-smoker and whether they get a smoking-related illness

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Our Scope of InfluenceOur Scope of InfluenceYour influence on outcomes will

be dependent on the broader context in which you work?

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Some Example Context Some Example Context QuestionsQuestionsHow do other programs in your

community fit with yours? (e.g., complement your efforts, compete for participants, publicity or funds)

What kinds of community support does your program have (or lack)?

What kinds of political support does your program have (or lack)?

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Some Example Context Some Example Context QuestionsQuestionsWhat are the broader life

circumstances of the people you work with (social, economic, environmental)?

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