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Outcomes are the measurable results of the implemented objectives.
To get at measurable outcomes, ask how many and what percentage
of participants do you expect to achieve each objective?
Outcomes will result from short-term, intermediate and long-term
objectives. Confirming short-term objectives is easiest. Sometimes,
it is difficult (or impossible) to confirm long-term (and
even intermediate) outcomes. Confirming long-term outcomes
typically requires additional time and financial resources.
In measuring outcomes, describe what you want your constituents
to know, to do and/or to think in measurable terms. Something
is measurable when it can be observed or known through the
five senses. Be careful to distinguish between Intangible
outcomes and Specific outcomes.
For example, if your evaluating an arts education program
designed to teach children certain techniques to create art,
and you plan to measure the outcomes by having teachers ask
the students to tell them about the work they’ve created.
The ability to incorporate the actual artistic concepts into
their freelance artwork is an intangible outcome. But, if
a student refers to a concept he/she learned during the dialogue
with the teacher, we can assume the student is incorporating
the lessons, which is a specific outcome.
Outcomes must be defined in measurable terms. They do not
have to be earth-shattering or dramatic. Often the outcomes
a funded project facilitates are incremental and subtle. Trying
to define rich and intangible experiences (the warm and fuzzies)
into concrete, specific and observable terms can be a very
frustrating process. Focus on one objective of a project which
could have one or more outcomes to it.
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