Review the evidence
The evidence section of the framework underpins the outcomes triangle and logic model. It lists the sources of evidence that together best demonstrate the contribution of archives to the outcomes. You should use local evidence, such as research studies, evaluations, surveys and case studies, to support your outcomes triangle and logic model.
You can back this up with evidence from national or international sources. Where possible evidence the different levels of outcome and the assumptions linking them together
Decide how to capture your thinking and decisions
Find a way to capture your thinking and decisions from each step. Use the downloadable evidence template if it helps.
Evidence template (insert word document template)
List the service outcomes and benefits, and the intermediate and overarching strategic outcomes
Take the service, intermediate and overarching strategic outcomes from your logic model. Also list the benefits you have identified as arising from the achievement of the service outcomes.
Identify sources of local and national evidence
Review any local quantitative or qualitative data you have available, for example data from research studies, evaluations, and case studies.
Review the national and international evidence. Look at the examples provided on this website in the evidence sections for each policy theme.
Quantitative data will help you to evidence how often things occur among which segments of your user groups. For example, data might be drawn from questionnaires, interviews or surveys with closed or multiple choice questions.
Qualitative data will contribute towards a more detailed picture and may be in the form of case studies linked to a specific category of user or may represent a broad cross section of users.
Think about how well the evidence you have gathered supports the stated benefits and the outcomes that archives contribute towards. How relevant, recent and robust is it? List any local evidence you think supports the service, intermediate and overarching strategic outcomes you have identified.
Review gaps in your evidence
Review the evidence you have listed for all the benefits and outcomes in your logic model. Is there enough evidence to back up the contribution of archives to each benefit and outcome? If evidence is missing or weak, can you or a partner collect new data or commission new research to get that evidence?
Remove any benefits or outcomes where you don’t have enough evidence to demonstrate the contribution of archives and where you won’t be able to obtain additional evidence in the near future.
If you are developing an outcomes framework for a number of policy themes, repeat these steps for each theme.
Stage four: select your performance indicators (link to stage four webpage)