CNC Theory of Change & Logic Models 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a logic model, which column typically appears FIRST in the sequence from left to right?
- Outputs
- Outcomes
- Inputs (Correct answer)
- Impact
Correct answer: Inputs
Inputs (resources such as staff, funding, and volunteers) are the starting point of a logic model, representing what an organization invests in its program.
Question 2: A nonprofit's theory of change assumes that providing job-skills training leads to employment, which leads to financial stability. This assumption is best described as a:
- Program evaluation criterion
- Causal linkage (Correct answer)
- Needs assessment finding
- Output metric
Correct answer: Causal linkage
A causal linkage is the explicit assumption that one condition or activity will produce a specific change, forming the chain of reasoning in a theory of change.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of a SHORT-TERM outcome in a youth mentorship program's logic model?
- Participants graduate from high school
- Participants report increased self-confidence after 3 months (Correct answer)
- The community experiences lower juvenile crime rates
- Mentors are trained and matched with youth
Correct answer: Participants report increased self-confidence after 3 months
Short-term outcomes are changes in knowledge, attitudes, or skills that occur within weeks to months of program participation.
Question 4: A logic model differs from a theory of change primarily because a logic model:
- Identifies the root causes of a social problem
- Engages community stakeholders in the planning process
- Provides a visual map of program components without fully explaining causal assumptions (Correct answer)
- Documents the historical context of the nonprofit's founding
Correct answer: Provides a visual map of program components without fully explaining causal assumptions
A logic model is a visual planning tool showing the program's components, while a theory of change goes deeper by articulating and justifying the causal assumptions behind those components.
Question 5: The term 'plausibility' in the context of a theory of change refers to:
- Whether the program has sufficient funding to operate
- Whether the causal logic is reasonable given evidence and experience (Correct answer)
- Whether the target population finds the program acceptable
- Whether the nonprofit's board has approved the strategic plan
Correct answer: Whether the causal logic is reasonable given evidence and experience
Plausibility means the theory's causal chain is credible and supported by research, practice wisdom, or stakeholder knowledge.
Question 6: When building a theory of change, 'surfacing assumptions' means:
- Publishing the theory of change on the organization's website
- Making explicit the beliefs about why and how the program will work (Correct answer)
- Calculating the return on investment for each program activity
- Identifying which staff members will implement each activity
Correct answer: Making explicit the beliefs about why and how the program will work
Surfacing assumptions involves articulating the often-unstated beliefs — about context, population, and causal mechanisms — that underpin the theory of change.
Question 7: A logic model's 'Activities' column should contain:
- The long-term social changes the program hopes to create
- The specific actions, services, or processes the program delivers (Correct answer)
- The number of participants served and sessions held
- The external conditions that must be true for the program to succeed
Correct answer: The specific actions, services, or processes the program delivers
Activities are the specific interventions, services, or processes that program staff carry out using the available inputs.
CNC Theory of Change & Logic Models 2
In a logic model, which column typically appears FIRST in the sequence from left to right?