Outputs

Outputs are the tangible products that result from a program's activities. In an evaluation of a communications campaign, for example, outputs might be the number of public service announcements placed or the number of brochures distributed. Output measurement can also involve assessing the number and type of people who receive the program services. Outputs are a standard component of logic models, where they fall between activities and outcomes. If a program is effective, its outputs should lead to the desired outcomes. Measuring outputs is usually easier and cheaper than measuring outcomes, but this does not suffice for good summative evaluation.