What are logic models and blueprints?
A logic model is a graphical representation of how the resources required to implement an intervention will lead to specific outputs, which contribute to the short-term and long-term outcomes you identified in your theory of change, created in step 1.
A blueprint is a plan or technical drawing that further specifies the logic model by identifying objectives for each of the intervention’s core activities and how these link to the short-term outcomes.
Why are these things important?
Logic models:
- provide a useful starting point for designing evaluations
- provide structure for the evaluation, and help you to prioritise and focus your data collection and analysis on the main aspects of the intervention and the relationships between them
- provide a powerful tool for monitoring intervention quality as it is implemented
- are also a useful tool for communicating about the intervention and helping those involved to understand how all the parts of the intervention work to achieve the desired outcomes.
Intervention blueprints:
- allow developers to carefully consider whether the intensity of their intervention is sufficient to achieve its intended outcomes
- help developers to consider whether their activities are appropriately varied, engaging and easy to do – and if not, what needs to be in place to overcome this
- help developers to check whether there is an obvious and logical connection between their intervention’s activities, core objectives and intended outcomes.
Key principles
There are a number of principles to keep in mind when you’re creating a logic model or blueprint for your intervention.
- The logic model should clearly specify and identify the inputs, activity outputs, participation outputs, and short-, medium- and long-term outcomes of the intervention.
- The logic model should consider the wider context in which the intervention will operate and how external factors might positively or negatively affect it.
- The intervention should have a blueprint or other document that clearly describes its core activities and links them to specific objectives that are related to the intervention’s intended short-term outcomes.
- All relationships between the different elements identified in the logic model and blueprint should be clear, reasonable and realistic.
- The intervention’s activities should be feasible, interesting and engaging. Activities specified in the blueprint should consider the needs and diversity of your intended population.