{"id":6039,"date":"2017-09-15T14:29:06","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T21:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/neo\/?p=6039"},"modified":"2019-09-24T10:10:43","modified_gmt":"2019-09-24T17:10:43","slug":"results-based-accountability-and-outcomes-based-evaluation-same-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/nec\/2017\/09\/15\/results-based-accountability-and-outcomes-based-evaluation-same-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"Results-Based Accountability and Outcomes-Based Evaluation: Same Thing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Green<\/a>We are currently working with performance measures and indicators in assessing the programs of the NNLM. As a starting point, we’ve looked to the Common Metrics Initiative<\/a> being used by Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) institutions. \u00a0CTSA institutions vary widely in their projects, but they\u00a0are using a set of common metrics to demonstrate\u00a0measurable improvements towards advancing translational research and workforce development.<\/p>\n

The Common Metrics Initiative is based on the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) Framework. \u00a0A guide to understanding this concept is on the Illinois Department of Human Services website: The Results-Based Accountability Guide<\/a>. This was my first encounter with Results-Based Accountability. While it has a lot in common with the outcomes-based evaluation, it has some additional facets.<\/p>\n

One thing they have in common is that the first thing you do is start at the end – the change you want to see – and then work backwards to the activities. \u00a0However in RBA, one interesting distinction is whether or not the “end” change was “population accountability” or “performance accountability.” \u00a0Population accountability is used if the desired end is to improve the quality of life for a population. \u00a0Performance accountability is if the desired end concerns how well a program, agency or service system is performing.<\/p>\n

In the vocabulary of RBA, the metrics used for “population accountability” are called indicators, and they are what you would measure to show the changes you want to see in a population. \u00a0At this point, I’m thinking “aha, population accountability is like outcomes evaluation, and performance accountability is like process evaluation.”<\/p>\n

But not so fast. According to the RBA framework, in performance accountability, the metrics are called performance measures, and they show how well your program is performing. \u00a0Here’s where it’s different from process evaluation. \u00a0In performance accountability, there are three kinds of performance measures:<\/p>\n