Planning: objectives, theory, and logic models
Planning converts assessment findings into a defensible design: goals, measurable objectives, a matched theory, a logic model, and an evidence base. Items test whether you can write an objective that could actually be evaluated and select theory that explains a specific determinant.
Core rules
- Goal = broad, aspirational. Objective = specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, with a who, what, how much, and by when.
- Three objective levels: process (what you delivered - sessions held, participants enrolled), impact (short-term change in behaviour or a determinant such as self-efficacy), outcome (long-term health status).
- Learning domains: cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitudes, beliefs), psychomotor (skills). Verbs must match the domain - 'demonstrate correct inhaler technique' is psychomotor; 'state three asthma triggers' is cognitive.
- Theory follows the diagnosed determinant. Intrapersonal: Health Belief Model, Transtheoretical Model, Theory of Planned Behavior. Interpersonal: Social Cognitive Theory (self-efficacy, observational learning, reciprocal determinism). Community: Community Organisation, Diffusion of Innovations (innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards). The ecological model stacks all levels.
- A logic model chains inputs → activities → outputs → short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes. Outputs are counts of what you delivered; outcomes are changes in people.
- Evidence-based practice means starting from an intervention with demonstrated effect, then adapting surface structure (language, images, setting) while preserving core components.
Worked example
Weak: 'Educate seniors about falls' - that is a goal-shaped activity with no measure. Better process objective: 'By 31 March, 80% of the 50 enrolled participants will complete at least 6 of 8 Otago-based sessions.' Better impact objective: 'By 30 September, 60% of completers will report no falls in the previous 90 days.' The impact objective names the indicator, the standard, the population, and the deadline; a fall-prevention programme measuring only attendance has no impact evidence.
Traps
- Objectives with no time frame or no numeric standard.
- Writing an outcome objective when the programme only measures attendance.
- Choosing a theory as decoration rather than to explain a named determinant.
- Adapting away core components and still calling the programme evidence-based.
- Confusing outputs (12 classes delivered) with outcomes (12 people changed).