From research to policy and practice: a logic model to measure

Authors

  • Tara M. Sullivan Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Saori Ohkubo Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Ward Rinehart Jura Editorial Services
  • J. Douglas Storey Center for Communication Programs, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Keywords:

knowledge management, development studies, health, public health, developing countries

Abstract

To date, few monitoring and evaluation guidelines exist for knowledge management products and services. One initiative undertaken by the Health Information and Publications Network (HIPNet) (www.hipnet.org), a network of health technical assistance organizations culminated in development of a guide to monitoring and evaluating health information products and services. The guide provides an approach to measuring the function and outcomes of health information programs, suggesting indicators and a logic model linking inputs, processes, and outputs to multiple levels of outcomes. The logic model depicts a way to strategically structure the design, implementation, and evaluation of such programs. This guide represents one of the few efforts to collect, develop, organize, and define indicators related to reach, usefulness and use of knowledge management products and services. It presents a unique logic model and list of indicators that can be used across different knowledge management products and services (e.g. manuals, guidelines, websites, networks, e-learning) to measure reach, usefulness and use. Since its development, the indicators and logic model have been used to guide the monitoring and evaluating (M&E) work of HIPNet member organizations and others. For example, the logic model has formed the foundation of M&E plans and many of the indicators and questions included in the guide have been used as the basis for measuring the reach, usefulness, and use of knowledge management for health programs. This paper discusses the theoretical basis of the logic model in this guide, the components of the logic model, and recommendations for its further development. It concludes that while this logic model based on diffusion of innovations theory fills a gap, knowledge management program designers, implementers, and evaluators will benefit from further testing the logic model and related indicators, better understanding audiences and the role of their networks, expanding the logic model to address multiple levels, further exploring relevant theory, and developing stronger needs assessment, monitoring, and evaluation approaches.

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2019-08-02

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