Developing and Using a Logic Model

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The evaluation guide Logic Models offers a general overview of the development and use of logic models as planning and evaluation tools. A feedback page is provided at the end of this guide. We will appreciate your comments.

Logic models are tools for planning, describing, managing, communicating, and evaluating a program or intervention. They graphically represent the relationships between a program’s activities and its intended effects, state the assumptions that underlie expectations that a program will work, and frame the context in which the program operates. Logic models are not static documents. In fact they should be revised periodically to reflect new evidence, lessons learned, and changes in context, resources, activities, or expectations.

Logic models increase the likelihood that program efforts will be successful because they

• Communicate the purpose of the program and expected results.
• Describe the actions expected to lead to the desired results.
• Become a reference point for everyone involved in the program.
• Improve program staff expertise in planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Involve stakeholders, enhancing the likelihood of resource commitment.
• Incorporate findings from other research and demonstration projects.
• Identify potential obstacles to program operation so that staff can address them early on.

State programs should develop logic models to describe

• The State HDSP program as a whole.
• A more detailed view of any specific intervention or component of a program, such as developing a state plan or a health communication campaign.

Electronic logic model templates can be created fairly easily in either a Microsoft Word table or a Microsoft Excel work sheet. A sample template is provided as an appendix.