Evaluation Questions

The types of questions you ask will depend on what you want to know about the program. But, in general, questions for a formative evaluation will probe if the program is being carried out as it was intended and what improvements, if any, are needed. Questions for a summative evaluation will probe if the program did what it was meant to do.

For a formative evaluation, you may want to ask the following questions:

1. What were the original or envisioned resources/inputs and activities of the program (usually depicted as a program logic model)?
2. How has the program actually developed and been implemented?
3. Do the activities match those in the program logic model?
4. What are the barriers or challenges to developing and implementing the program?
5. How have these barriers been addressed?
6. What are the facilitators for the development and implementation of the program?
7. What contextual factors have impacted the development, implementation, success, and challenges of this program?
8. Have the appropriate human and material resources been obtained?
9. Is the program unfolding on time?
10. What lessons have been learned in developing and implementing the program?
11. What are the recommendations or suggestions to refine or enhance the program?

For a summative evaluation, you may want to ask the following questions:

1. What were the outputs and outcomes of the program?
2. Were there any unintended impacts of the program, positive or negative?
3. Were the program’s stated goals and objectives met?
4. Was the program equally effective for all participants?
5. What was the perceived value of the program by the various stakeholders?
6. Were the resources and inputs sufficient to achieve the goals of the program?
7. Was the program worth the investment?
8. Can the program be replicated and transferred?