Process evaluation is used to assess whether a project is on track, and offers an opportunity to learn if a project should continue as planned or if adjustments should be made. Process evaluation is most useful when it is conducted throughout the course of a project. Process measures should answer the following questions, which are adapted from the Integrated Health Promotion Resource Kit:
- Are all planned activities being implemented?
- Are all materials and components of the program of good quality and useful?
- Is the program reaching the target audience or interest group?
- Are participants satisfied with the program?
Need help identifying the right process measures?
The process measures included in this document are not exhaustive or all-encompassing, and some measures may not work for a project. Please reach out to the SNAP-Ed evaluation team with an evaluation request form for help finding measures for a specific project.
Farm to Community Process Measures
Working in a farmers market?
- Count attendance at the FM.
- Count attendees redeeming EBT benefits at markets.
- Track total EBT and SNAP Market Match sales.
- If you’re doing a food tasting or demo, enter these as Indirect Activities in PEARS. See p. 31-32 in the Evaluation Guidance (PDF) for more directions.
Working on a gleaning project?
- Track volunteer hours and attendance.
- List of partner farms and producers.
- Track pounds of produce gleaned and where it was gathered from.
- Track where produce is donated and how much is delivered to each site.
Working on Farm to Food Bank?
- List partner farms and producers, and track pounds of produce received from each.
- Track how much produce is donated, how much produce is purchased, and costs of purchase.
- Track pounds of produce taken by clients (in client-choice model) or distributed in general.
- Track staff and volunteer time spent on intake and processing of donations/purchases from farms.
- If you’re doing a food tasting or demo, enter these as Indirect Activities in PEARS. See p. 31-32 in the Evaluation Guidance (PDF) for more directions.
Working in a community garden?
- Track volunteer hours and attendance.
- If possible, track volunteer demographics – age, association to community garden (e.g. live in neighborhood, master gardener, student at the school).
- Track purchased and donated supplies.
- Count types and pounds of produce grown.
- Track where produce is distributed and how much goes to each site or individual.
Working on Farm and Sea to School?
- List partner farms and producers, and track pounds of produce received from each.
- Count any new Farm and Sea to School policies adopted by the school or district, and what they support.
- Track costs of produce purchases.
- Track how produce is used in school meals.
- Track how much produce is used in school meals.
- Which items are used most? Which items are harder to use?
- Which items do students choose and eat? Which items do they not eat or show more skepticism for?
- If you’re doing a food tasting or demo, enter these as Indirect Activities in PEARS. See p. 31-32 in the Evaluation Guidance (PDF) for more directions.