CPE CPE Logic Models & Theory of Change 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a logic model in program evaluation?
- To replace the evaluation report
- To visually map the relationships between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes (Correct answer)
- To track staff performance metrics
- To document budget expenditures
Correct answer: To visually map the relationships between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes
A logic model visually depicts how a program's resources and activities are expected to lead to desired outcomes.
Question 2: In a logic model, 'outputs' are best described as:
- Long-term community changes
- The direct products or deliverables of program activities (Correct answer)
- The resources invested in a program
- The assumptions underlying the program
Correct answer: The direct products or deliverables of program activities
Outputs are the direct, measurable products of program activities, such as the number of training sessions held or participants served.
Question 3: Which element of a logic model represents the foundational resources used to run a program?
- Outcomes
- Assumptions
- Inputs (Correct answer)
- Impacts
Correct answer: Inputs
Inputs are the resources—such as staff, funding, and facilities—that are invested into a program to enable its activities.
Question 4: A Theory of Change differs from a logic model primarily because it:
- Only applies to large federal programs
- Explains WHY and HOW change is expected to occur, including underlying assumptions (Correct answer)
- Lists only short-term outcomes
- Is used exclusively for budget justification
Correct answer: Explains WHY and HOW change is expected to occur, including underlying assumptions
A Theory of Change goes deeper than a logic model by articulating the causal mechanisms and assumptions that explain how and why outcomes are expected to result from activities.
Question 5: When developing a logic model, 'assumptions' refer to:
- Financial projections for the next fiscal year
- The beliefs about how the program will work and the conditions necessary for success (Correct answer)
- Participant demographic data
- Output count targets
Correct answer: The beliefs about how the program will work and the conditions necessary for success
Assumptions in a logic model are the beliefs and conditions—such as community readiness or partner cooperation—that must hold true for the program to succeed.
Question 6: Which sequence correctly represents the standard logic model flow?
- Outcomes → Activities → Inputs → Outputs
- Inputs → Activities → Outputs → Outcomes (Correct answer)
- Outputs → Inputs → Assumptions → Impacts
- Impacts → Outcomes → Inputs → Activities
Correct answer: Inputs → Activities → Outputs → Outcomes
The standard logic model flows from Inputs through Activities to Outputs and then to short-term, medium-term, and long-term Outcomes.
CPE CPE Logic Models & Theory of Change 1
What is the primary purpose of a logic model in program evaluation?