When program designers and implementers contact a program evaluator, they usually begin with a fairly straight-forward request—“We need to evaluate our program to determine if it worked.”
On the surface the request seems simple enough, but it becomes complicated as soon as the program evaluator starts asking questions:
- “What program outputs do you expect?”
- “What program outcomes do you expect?”
- “How will you know if those outcomes are achieved?”
- “How will you know if the program activities led to the program outputs and program outcomes?”
- “What data elements will you track to examine outcomes?”
The goal of program evaluation is not simply to collect data, but instead to determine if the program worked, why the program worked, and how evaluation data can lead to continuous improvement and long-term program sustainability.
To help support this process, Cosgrove & Associates employs its IDID Process. The IDID Process allows program designers, program implementers, and research and evaluation staff to work closely together to identify areas of inquiry, discover data, interpret results, and develop actions for continuous improvement.