How to align them with your evaluation questions and methods?
There is no single approach to aligning your logic model and theory of change with your evaluation questions and methods, but there are some general steps to consider. Begin by tracing your program's goals and outcomes back to the inputs and activities that contribute to them. This will help you create your logic model and theory of change, as well as generate your evaluation questions. For instance, if the goal is to improve literacy skills among children, ask what inputs and activities are necessary to achieve this goal, how they lead to literacy outcomes, and what indicators and measures of literacy outcomes exist.
Review your logic model and theory of change for clarity, coherence, realism, and evidence-based conclusions. This will help you refine the program's logic and theory, as well as identify any gaps or weaknesses in the evaluation questions. Ask if the links between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes are logical and plausible; if any missing or unclear steps or assumptions exist; if alternative or competing explanations for the outcomes exist; and if the evaluation questions are relevant, specific, measurable, achievable, and timely.
Select your evaluation methods and data sources that match up with your logic model and theory of change. This will help you choose the most appropriate and feasible methods and data sources for your evaluation questions while ensuring alignment between the program's logic and theory with the evaluation methods and data. Ask what methods and data sources can best answer the evaluation questions; how they fit with the program's logic and theory; how they capture the outputs, outcomes, and impacts of the program; as well as what strengths and limitations of the methods and data sources exist.
By following these steps you can align your logic model and theory of change with your evaluation questions and methods for a more rigorous and meaningful evaluation of your program.