Outcome-Based Evaluation
A Working Model for Arts Projects

Section 3: Evaluating the Project (cont)

Note: In the NEA Grants for Arts Projects Guidelines, applicants are required to address directly one of the NEA-defined outcomes, and describe how the outcome will be measured. Please consider the first FIVE elements of the logic model to help you describe your process. The remaining elements of the logic model are for information purposes only, but you may find the process helpful in completing an evaluation plan for your project.

When developing a project, it is helpful to identify the inputs, activities, services, and outputs that are necessary to achieve the project’s desired outcomes.

Element One - Inputs INPUTS: What will the project use and consume in terms of resources, staff, and facilities?

Element Two - Activities and Services ACTIVITIES: What are the administrative tasks necessary to get the project going and what will have to be done to accomplish the project?
SERVICES: What are the direct services delivered to the project’s target audience?

Element Three - Outputs OutPUTS: What are the products produced by the project and how will they be identified and then counted?

Element Four - Outcomes OutCOMES: What happens to participants as a result of participating in the project’s activities and services? Outcome statements describe what changes are intended to occur among participants because of the project. These changes may be in the participants’ skills, attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, status, or life condition. The outcomes may be expected to occur immediately after the provision of services or there may be an intermediate or long-term effect. Frequently, there may be a change in knowledge (short-term effect) that leads to a change in behavior (intermediate) that leads to a change in attitude (long-term). A project may have one or more expected outcomes. Often, projects have one to three expected outcomes that are explicitly stated.

Element Five – Indicators (or Performance Measures) INDICATORS: What demonstrates whether the project is achieving its intended outcome? Indicators are observable and measurable evidence that a specific change has taken place. Some outcomes are easily measurable, such as whether art students have learned to distinguish between different periods of art. A test could be devised that would measure such a result. Other outcomes are more difficult, such as whether art students have learned to discern the quality and expressive power of works of art. To be useful, outcome indicators must reflect measurable, countable and/or observable evidence of changes, accomplishments, or gains in skills, attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, status, or life condition. An outcome may have more than one indicator to show change has occurred.

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Introduction | Building a Project | Evaluating the project | Reporting

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