Summative evaluation focusses on programs that are already underway or completed. It investigates the effects of the program, both intended and unintended. It seeks to answer the questions “Did the program make a difference?”(impact evaluation) and “Did the program meet its stated goals and objectives?”(outcome evaluation). In its most rigorous form the design of an outcome evaluation can become very complex in order to rule out any other plausible explanations for the results. Outcome evaluation can assess both short term outcomes, immedi- ate changes in individuals or participants (such as participation rates, awareness, knowledge, or behaviour) and long term outcomes (some- times referred to as impact evaluation) which look at the.
