What is a logic model and how is it used in program planning?

What is a logic model and how is it used in program planning?

• A. A budget spreadsheet for expenditures.
• B. A narrative without any visuals.
• C. A visual representation of inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact used to plan and evaluate initiatives.
• D. A list of participant demographics only.

Answer: (C)

A logic model is a visual map of how a program is expected to work, showing the pathway from what you invest to what you do, what you deliver, the changes you expect, and the ultimate impact. It lays out inputs (resources like staff, funding, and materials), activities (the services or processes you implement), outputs (the direct products or services delivered), outcomes (the anticipated short-, mid-, and long-term changes in participants or systems), and impact (the broader, lasting effects). This clarity helps you plan by aligning resources and activities with the desired results, and it guides evaluation by identifying what to measure at each step and what indicators will show progress toward the goals. When planning, you can test whether the sequence makes sense and spot gaps or assumptions to address. For evaluation, you compare what happens in reality with what the model predicts and use that insight to improve the program. The other options miss the full, structured pathway from inputs to impact that a logic model provides.

A logic model is a visual map of how a program is expected to work, showing the pathway from what you invest to what you do, what you deliver, the changes you expect, and the ultimate impact. It lays out inputs (resources like staff, funding, and materials), activities (the services or processes you implement), outputs (the direct products or services delivered), outcomes (the anticipated short-, mid-, and long-term changes in participants or systems), and impact (the broader, lasting effects). This clarity helps you plan by aligning resources and activities with the desired results, and it guides evaluation by identifying what to measure at each step and what indicators will show progress toward the goals. When planning, you can test whether the sequence makes sense and spot gaps or assumptions to address. For evaluation, you compare what happens in reality with what the model predicts and use that insight to improve the program. The other options miss the full, structured pathway from inputs to impact that a logic model provides.