Types of Performance Measures

There are two types of performance measures used in program evaluation: process and outcome measures.

Process Measures - address program implementation; that is, whether program activities were carried out as planned. These are also referred to as output measures.

For example, the output of drug use prevention education may include the number of sessions completed over the school year.

Outcome Measures - address program accomplishments and are directly tied to program objectives.

For example, outcome measures of an anti-drug abuse program may include students' knowledge about drugs and alcohol, attitudes about drugs and alcohol, and involvement with drugs and alcohol. Outcome measures for a program designed to improve case processing in a juvenile court may include the number of cases processed in a certain period of time or the number of days between charges being filed and final disposition of a case.