Summative evaluation methods are mainly based on giving summaries of the various effects of a program on a target population, whereas process evaluations give an analysis of the programs when they are ongoing. There are two main types of summative evaluations namely, outcome evaluation and impact evaluation. A great distinction exists between these two types of evaluations, despite the fact that most of the people tend to overlook the difference. In a nutshell, outcome evaluation is mainly involved with a finite and measurable change (MLE, 2013). Conversely, impact evaluation has a more long-term focus, giving summaries of the long-term effects of a program on a target population’s health. As such, the distinction between both approaches is evident in the different reach, nature and scope of each of the programs.
Outcome evaluation has a major focus on the various effects that are measurable that can be directly connected with the establishment of a given program. The outcome approach entails showing the various changes that have been derived from the implementation of a program, and a provision of counterfactual information showing what the target population might have missed out on if the program had not been implemented (Nonprofit Answer Guide, 2016). This evaluation approach strives to provide an overreaching analysis of the direct changes that have occurred in the target population, and evaluating whether these changes can be attributed to the implementation of the program (Forti et al., 2011). An outcome evaluation is conducted after the completion of the program or during several milestones after the implementation of the program.
Contrarily, impact evaluation approaches have a more strategic scope or focus. They not only concentrate on the numerous changes that directly impact a target population after a program but also give a deeper analysis of the numerous effects that can be connected to the changes in the target population (Salazar, Crosby & Diclement, 2015). This analysis approach has also evaluated if the over-arching program goals have been met, and also evaluates the various lessons that have been learned from the implementation of such a program. Ideally, the impact evaluations are conducted years or after a very long time after the implementation of the program.
References
Forti L., A. L., de Lima, G. C. M., de Barros L. C., Pampiona, T. V. L., Parada, D. G. L. (2011). Evaluation for care of at-risk newborns from the perspective of a public health policy. Mexico: Revista Latino American de Enfermagem.
Harding, A. (October 27, 2014). What is the difference between an impact and an outcome? Impact is the longer term effect of an outcome. Retrieved from http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2014/10/27/impact-vs-outcome-harding/
MLE. (2013). Outcome and Impact Evaluation. Retrieved from https://www.urbanreproductivehealth.org/toolkits/measuring-success/outcome-and-impact-evaluation
Nonprofit Answer Guide. (2016). What is the difference between process, outcome and impact evaluations? Retrieved from http://nonprofitanswerguide.org/faq/evaluation/difference-between-process-outcome-and-impact-evaluations/
Salazar, L., Crosby, R. A. & Diclement, R. J. (2015). Research Methods in health promotion (2nd e.d.). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Schalock, R. L. (1995). Outcome-Based Evaluation. Boston, MA: Springer US.
