A Hierarchy for Targeting Outcomes and
Evaluating Their Achievement

Synopsis

Targeting Outcomes of Programs (TOP) focuses on outcomes in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. TOP is based on a hierarchy that integrates program evaluation within the program development process. TOP uses this simple framework to target specific outcomes in program development and then to assess the degree to which the outcome targets are reached.

Intended Audience: People who develop and administer information, education, and training programs on high priority problems or issues in today's society.

TOP is based on a theoretically sound framework that has been tested, revised and refined, and widely used over the past 20 years (Bennett, 1975 ; Bennett, 1979 ; and Bennett & Rockwell, 1995).

Kay Rockwell, Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vita	Claude Bennett, Ph.D. Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, USDA Vita

Table of Contents	Introduction