Evaluation Overview
Last Updated: March 2022
In public health, evaluation is a process used for assessing and improving programs. According to the CDC, evaluation is defined as a “systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using data to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of programs, and, as importantly, to contribute to continuous program improvement.”
CDC Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health
CDC’s Framework for Program Evaluation summarizes the essential elements of program evaluation, provides a framework for conducting effective program evaluations, clarifies steps in program evaluation, reviews the standards for effective program evaluation, and addresses misconceptions regarding the purposes and methods of program evaluation.
The six steps are connected and can be used as a starting point for developing an evaluation for a specific public health effort at a particular time. The early steps establish a foundation for the evaluation effort.
Learn more about the CDC Framework:
- CDC Framework for Program Evaluation (webpage)
- Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health (MMWR Article)
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