Metrics are used to answer evaluation questions. They are a simple, reliable way to measure achievement, change, or performance related to a program. Metrics may be used differently by different evaluators or organizations, so they should defined at the beginning of an evaluation.

For example, hospital wait time might be a metric for “hospital quality.” Wait time could be measured before a program to determine the baseline, and then it could be measured again after some changes are made at the hospital to see if those changes increased or decreased wait time. Wait time could be measured differently by different people, so the exact steps for measuring it must be defined before collecting data.

Metrics may also be called measures or indicators.

See also: construct

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