When crafting your evaluation questions, keep the following considerations in mind:

• Some questions are too broad to answer. Think about breaking down larger questions into their component parts. For example, consider replacing, "Is our program duplicating other efforts?" with, "What other programs exist that are similar to ours? In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different? How do these programs complement ours? How is our program unique?"

• Questions should be relevant. For example, questions about a drug prevention program designed to strengthen family bonding should ask about family relationships, not school attachment.

• Questions should be feasible. Many groups make the mistake of choosing questions that are interesting and on target, but are impossible to answer given available resources. Any question that requires more effort to answer than the evaluation budget can support is not a good question.

• Questions should be useful. Good evaluation questions yield information that can be directly applied to program management, service delivery, program planning, and/or policymaking.