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About This Newsletter

Outcomes & Impact Quarterly (OIQ) is an Extension Evaluation publication. Each contribution follows a standard format with broad headings that describes a problem or situation statement, program activities, program participants, outcomes, and public value. The newsletter is available free to the public via Digital Commons. Each volume will include an introductory text from Vice President Ken White highlighting Extension’s integral role in the meeting needs of residents throughout the state. OIQ highlights the outcomes and impact of USU Extension programming.

Required Headings

See here for more details
  • Introduction: Problem/Situation(approx. 150 words)
    • What are the needs or problems most relevant to your program? Provide a broad description of the problem. Needs are gaps in resources, and problems are the direct and indirect effects of those existing gaps. The statewide needs assessment provides a list of critical issues and needs relevant to Utah.
    • Are there existing evidence or literature that highlight the problem? Use secondary sources to clearly describe the problem. Cite local sources (e.g. news articles), demographic data (e.g. census data), and/or journal articles.
    • Narrow down the problem into clear action statements. What are immediate actions that can address this problem? This statement shows program relevance.
  • Response: Extension Programs and/or Activities(approx. 150 words)
    • What did you do? Describe all activities taken to address the problem (i.e. activities of the program). Activities should tie to item 1.c. above and clearly confirm the relevancy of the program.
    • Describe who was involved in program activities (e.g. county faculty, specialist, community stakeholders).
    • Describe the timeline of the program (start and end date, if applicable).
  • Target Audience: Participants(approx. 100 words)
    • Describe the socio-economic characteristics of the target audience. Target audiences are sub-populations directly impacted by the problem.
    • Describe actual participants – who attended the program? How many participants attended? Did you reach your target audience?
    • Indicate participants level of interaction with program activities. How were participants engaged in activities (e.g. hours of face-to-face or online sessions)?
  • Results: Outcomes and/or Impact(approx. 300 words)
    • What were the short-term outcomes of your program? Describe participants’ knowledge gain, skill development/improvement, attitude change, and/or intentions to change a behavior or adopt a recommended practice. Short-term outcome indicators should tie back to the problem statement i.e. how do the selected short-term outcomes improve the situation or address the problem? If you do not have follow-up evaluation data on medium-term outcomes, can you predict the effects of positive short-term outcomes based on research done in other studies? Quotes from participants are also encouraged.
    • If applicable, describe the medium-term outcomes. This requires follow-up evaluation data and can include findings from interviews with selected participants. Did participants change their behavior in a manner that positively impacts the situation or resolve the problem? Did participants adopt a recommended practice or technology that ultimately leads to an improvement in the broad problem area?
    • If applicable, describe long-term outcomes (i.e. impact). This requires long-term follow up evaluation data that describes sustained or continued change in behaviors or practices. Did participants maintain the behavior change observed in the medium-term follow-up? Are they still using recommended practices? Long-term outcomes are directly aligned to the problem or situation – it demonstrates the ultimate impact of your program on a social, economic, or environmental condition. If long-term outcome data are unavailable, use the literature to make assumptions about the impact of your program [e.g. Loton and Waters (2017) indicated a positive increase in self-efficacy (observed short-term outcome) leads to improved mental wellbeing (assumed long-term outcome) in youth].
  • Public Value/Next steps(approx. 200 words)
    • Based on the evaluation results (short, medium, and/or long-term outcomes), how did your program address the initial problem or improve the situation? What can you say about the progress of a social, economic, or environmental condition due to your program? This requires assumptions about your results and its connection with the problem area.
    • Why should the public care about your program? Provide a clear description of the success of your program and implications for future related efforts.
    • What do you plan to do next? What are the upcoming programs or activities that can complement or build on the current efforts?
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