Identifying the Components
of a Logic Model
What is a logic model?
Logic models can assist you in program evaluation by providing a picture of how your program
is intended to work. It identifies your programs main components and how they should relate to
one another. Logic models include process and outcome components.
Process Components of Model
Examples
(planning elements)
Inputs (resources) Funding, staff, materials
Activities (program events or strategies) Patient testing and treatment, staff
trainings
Outputs (products of activities) Number of patients treated, quality of
trainings
Outcome Components of Model
Examples
(intended effects)
Short-Term Outcomes (immediate Increased proportion of patients treated;
effects: weeks-months) changes in knowledge, skills, or beliefs
Intermediate Outcomes (intended Increased proportion of partners treated;
effects that occur over the mid-term: increased condom use; change in policies
months-years) or behaviors
Long-Term Outcomes (long-term Reduced STD prevalence; changes in
intended effects: years-decades) morbidity and/or mortality
The goals and process and outcome objectives that are related to your program should provide content
for the process and outcome components of your logic model and vice versa.
For more information and examples, see Step 2.3 in the Practical
Use of Program Evaluation among STD Programs manual.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/program/pupestd.htm
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Division of STD Prevention
CS249668
Logic Models are useful:
• To build understanding and clarity about your program
• To identify resources needed for your program
• To identify the sequencing of activities that should be implemented
• To serve as a basis for program evaluation
Logic models are a good tool to help focus an evaluation to determine what to measure and what
areas of your program might be most in need of evaluation. You can develop a logic model which
depicts how an entire program operates (i.e. global) or focuses more closely on a component or
specific activity (i.e. nested).
Example of Logic Model
Since it may not be feasible to evaluate the entire STD program, this example will refer to a
program activity or component you might plan to evaluate (a nested logic model).
Goal
To reduce the prevalence of STDs among MSM in City X.
Process Objective
By (month/year), staff will conduct three professional development workshops on STD screening
recommendations for clinical providers caring for MSM in City X.
Short-Term Intermediate Long–Term
Inputs Activities Outputs
Outcome Outcome Outcome
funding Conduct Workshop Increased Increased Decreased
workshop on STD knowledge routine prevalence of
staff time on STD guidelines of STD screening for STDS among
guidelines for clinical guidelines STDs in MSM MSM
screening for clinical providers among by clinical
guidelines providers caring clinical providers
caring for for MSM providers attending the
workshop MSM conducted attending the workshop
curriculum workshop
meeting space
Identifying the Components of a Logic Model
