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Applying Outcome Based Evaluation

Applying Applying Outcome Based Evaluation (OBE)
to Your Grant Project

What is a Grant Project?

  • A series of activities that lead to a goal
  • Has a definite beginning and end
  • Focus is on change in attitude, behavior, knowledge, skills, status or condition

Steps

1) Identify a need. What change would improve library services for my patrons?

2) Verify the need. What experiences, observations or research support the need for a change?

3) Get Specific. Provide as much detail as you can to these questions.

  • Who is my target audience? (age, grade level, skill level, population, etc.)
  • What resources will I need to reach the goal? (people, materials, ideas, time)
  • What actions do I need to take to reach the goal? (provide trainings, generate publicity, develop reports)
  • When do I need to take action? (start date, target dates, end date)
  • Where do I get my resources? (staff, school administration, local businesses, on-line, community partners)
  • How will my library patrons benefit if this change or improvement takes place? (change or improvement in library services or library patrons)

4) Develop your outputs, outcomes and indicators.

5) Fill out a Logic Model Form as part of your Grant Application.

NOTE: If your project is technology based, it is sometimes hard to fit the Outputs/Outcomes model to this type of project.

Outputs would be the number and type of computers, servers, software, etc. that you purchased. An output could also be trainings on the new equipment, or a survey of the public.

When you are thinking about your Outcomes for a technology based project, think in terms of measuring attitude or behavior changes towards the library or library equipment. You might want to use "customer satisfaction" as an outcome.

Examples

Project Title:   __________________________________________ 

Library:           __________________________________________

A  Logic Model Form


Outcome 1
Indicator
Target Audience
Data Source
Data Interval
Target
Actual Results

What you expect to happen because of your project

 Observable and measurable behaviors and conditions

The group to be measured

 Sources of information about conditions being measured When data is collected The amount of impact desired The actual impact collected from data sources

Example of a Logic Model Form


Outcome 1
Indicator
Target Audience
Data Source
Data Interval
Target
Actual Results

Participants will have basic computer skills

 70% of 300 6th grade students who can process 1 complete assignment without error

All 6th grade students who finished "basic" training session

 Completed assignment After "basic" training session 75% of approximately 300 6th grade students 84.3% of 290 6th grade students who completed "basic" training session processed 1 complete assignment without error

A  Logic Model Form


Outcome 1
Indicator
Target Audience
Data Source
Data Interval
Target
Actual Results

Customers will express increased satisfaction with the computer services at the library.

 50% of 700 library patrons will express "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the new computers.

All library patrons who come into the library.

 Survey and anecdotal reports to library staff. One month before new computers are installed and one month after new computers are installed. 50% of 700 library patrons. 78% of 690 library patrons said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the new computers.

NOTE: 

The Logic Model is used as part of your grant application, as well as for your Final Evaluation (Attachment F).

It can be in the form of a table, or as a narrative report