Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

1
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• Keep systematic program records
• Staff time expended - leadership skills
• Attendance lists kept to document increased
  attendance
• Requests for information kept to demonstrate
  increased awareness and interest

2
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• Designing program activities to yield evidence of
  accomplishment
• Exercises in which participants demonstrate their
  ability to do what was taught
• Tests of learning built in to program
• End of program feedback form to assess
  participants intentions of applying what was
  learned
• Producer records, contain evidence of
  accomplishments

3
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• Use of data/records from non-extension sources
• Existing data can be pulled together as
  benchmarks and trendlines as well as indicators
  of accomplishments
• Sales records of major fertilizer distributors
• Sales records of calf sales
• Law enforcement agencies crime statistics
• Plans recorded by local governments

4
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• Surveys of participants and others
• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Use these to access attitudes, beliefs, behaviors
  and attributes
• Benefits gained
• Evidence of accomplishment
• Ideas for improvement
• Opportunities to set new program directions
• Collect data for economic, environmental and or
  social impacts

5
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• In-depth study of selected cases
• Reporting of demonstration type projects
• Reporting before and after recommended management
  practices and changes are adopted as a result of
  demonstration projects
• Pilot test projects which result in broader
  applications

6
Collecting Evidence to Show Impacts

• Direct observation of program results
• Program accomplishments may be visible in their
  natural surroundings. Seeing is not enough
  however, these observations may be recorded as
  anecdotal evidence of impacts
• Installation of an irrigation system
• Litter records kept on a farrowing pen
• Home garden planted
• Youth service activities outside those planned by
  service agencies

7
For Further Information or to Comment Contact

• Dr Dallas L. Holmes
• Extension Specialist Institutional Research
• Utah State University Extension
• 4900 Old Main Hill
• Logan, Utah 84322-4900
• DallasH_at_Ext.USU.Edu