• Problem (what issues does the program address?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Problems’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Problems’

• Program participants (who is the program for?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Program participants’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Program participants’
• Evaluation audience (who is interested in the evaluation?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Evaluation audiences’ or ‘write your own’ in text entry field; with option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Evaluation audiences’
• Goals (what are the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes/impacts?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Goals’ or ‘write your own’ in text entry field.

Note. The ‘Goals’ field is dependent on the ‘Problems’ field. If the user selected one or more options from the list of ‘Problems’ in the step above, then the ‘Goals’ mapped to the selected ‘Problems’ will appear in a different format to the rest of the goals in the list (e.g., highlighted green). If the user wrote their own, then all the ‘Goals’ in the list will display in the usual format. See the example in the image below.

(Plan tab is viewable but not editable until Define tab is complete)

• Activities (what will you do to achieve the goals?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Activities’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Activities’
• Inputs (what is needed?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Inputs’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Inputs’
• Outputs (what will be delivered?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Outputs’ or or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Outputs’
• Evaluation Priorities (1-3 priorities for the evaluation) Text entry field
• Key evaluation questions (what questions will the evaluation answer?) Text entry field
• Indicators (what demonstrates the outcomes?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Indicators’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field.

Note. The ‘Indicators’ field is dependent on the ‘Goals’ fields, as previously described. See the two examples in the images below.

(Design tab is viewable but not editable until Plan tab is complete)

• Data collection tool (how will you measure the indicators?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Data collection tools’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field.

Note 1. The ‘Data collection tools’ field is dependent on the ‘Indicators’ fields, as previously described.

Note 2. The tools are from the Portal’s bank of recommended existing surveys, tests and other instruments that were developed by experts, have been tested and shown to be valid and reliable. Valid and reliable means that the instrument accurately and consistently measures what it is meant to measure. Validity and reliability bring rigour to your evaluation and credibility to your findings.

Users will be able to view the details of each recommended tool/instrument to determine which they want to use (see above the ‘Search for and view data collection tools/instruments’ function).

• Design approach (which evaluation approach will use choose?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Approaches’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Approaches’
• Data collection method (which data collection method will use choose?) Select one option from a list of available ‘Data collection methods’; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Data collection method’
• Data management plan (where and how will you manage your data?) Complete the data management plan table by (1) select one of the options for ‘Data type’ and (2) write details in each cell; with the option to add additional rows as needed.

(Execute tab is viewable but not editable until Design tab is complete)

• Consent: Do you plan to recruit evaluation participants? Select ‘Yes/No’ option; if ‘Yes’, then respond to 3 follow-up questions: (1) ‘How will you invite people to take part in your evaluation?’ (2) ‘How will you get informed consent from participants?’ and (3) ‘Are you following the consent requirements outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research?’ – ‘Yes/No’
• Ethics: Do you plan to publish in an academic journal or use the data for academic research? Select ‘Yes/No’ option; if ‘Yes’, then respond to 3 follow-up questions: (1) ‘Are you following the human ethics guidelines outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research?’  – ‘Yes/No’; (2) ‘Have you obtained human ethics approval through a registered Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)?’ – ‘Yes/No’ and (2) if ‘Yes’, please enter the HREC approval number; if ‘No’, then error message “You must obtain ethics approval from a registered HREC if you plan to publish in an academic journal or use the data for academic research”.
• Analysis approach (how will you analyse the data?) Select one or more options from a list of available ‘Analysis approaches’ or ‘write your own’ in the text entry field; with the option to write additional detail about the selected ‘Analysis approaches’

(Review & publish tab is viewable but not editable until Execute tab is complete) 

• Review Define, Plan and Design sections at once; with the option to edit specific sections
• Save PLAN section as ‘Draft’ or ‘Publish’
• If ‘Publish’ is selected, choose the visibility of the PLAN section from available options: public (anyone can view), private (only the user can view), unlisted (anyone with a link can view)