Short-term, medium-term and long-term outcomes
Remember, outcomes can be observed in the short term,
medium term, and long term. Start with an achievable, measurable short-term outcome, then ask "what happens next?" Then "what happens after that?" In this way you show how you assume the program leads to long-term outcomes or goals. Examine the examples below.
SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES
Changes in skills, attitudes and knowledge
(Girl Scout can identify 5 birds by name in an exhibit and on a field trip.)
MEDIUM-TERM OUTCOMES
Changes in behavior and decision making
(Girl Scout chooses bird-watching activity for family vacation.)
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
Changes in status or life conditions
(Girl Scout becomes biology major in college.)
Plan to evaluate short-term outcomes, but check whether you have the time and money to evaluate any medium- or long-term outcomes. For example, see the Denver Firefighters Museum case teaching fire safety to children with the long-term goal of reducing the number of children as fire victims, but the outcome is medium-term: "children demonstrate knowledge of fire safety" as tested in a teacher-administered survey 4 weeks after their museum visit to see if they can identify the safest way out of their house in case of an emergency.