Logic model 2.0: A framework for revising your program's logic model

Logic models are tools that evaluators use to describe a program's inputs, activities, outputs, and anticipated outcomes. They are used in grant applications and the creation of evaluation tools, yet are often forgotten once programs are operational.

Logic models, like other program procedures, are dynamic, adaptable instruments that are valuable management tools. As programs mature and evaluation data become available, logic models should be revisited periodically to help refine the vision and provide clarity as to the specific steps needed to reach intended outcomes. The process of revising logic models can ensure that staff are working towards a common vision and that activities are aligned to meet that vision. This presentation will describe the process undertaken by the Emory Public Health Training Center to revise its logic model, including the impact of changes made. These processes included: 1) reviewing qualitative and quantitative evaluation data to gain a fuller sense of program strengths and challenges, 2) reviewing the original logic model for improvements in current program operations to enhance the future vision, 3) deconstructing the original overarching logic model into current program-specific components, and 4) revising the range of anticipated outcomes for each activity. The result of the collaborative revision process was the development of component-specific logic models that articulated more ambitious program goals and more clearly defined methods for achieving these goals. This presentation will provide a stepwise framework for approaching the process of logic model revision, including questions to ask at each step and concrete examples to illustrate steps.