Performance measures that relate program inputs to program outcomes are called

Cost-effectiveness measures are a specific type of performance metric used to evaluate the relationship between the resources used in a program (inputs, most commonly measured in monetary costs) and the outcomes or results achieved. This measure directly assesses how economically a program achieves its intended societal or policy impacts, answering the question, "What is the cost per unit of a specific outcome?"

A. efficiency measures.

Efficiency measures are a broader category that often relates inputs to outputs (the direct products of an activity), not necessarily the final outcomes (the results or impact).

B. process measures.

Process measures track the operational activities and steps within a program, such as timeliness or adherence to procedures, rather than the relationship between resources and results.

D. activity measures.

Activity measures, also known as output measures, quantify the amount of work done or services delivered (e.g., number of cases processed), not the ultimate outcome or its cost.

1. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2011, May). Performance Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and Relationships (GAO-11-646SP).

Page 7: In the section "Types of Performance Measures," the document defines a cost-effectiveness measure as "A type of efficiency measure that relates a program’s costs to its outcomes." This directly supports the correct answer. It also defines an efficiency measure as relating outcomes or outputs to costs, confirming it is a broader term.

2. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). (2023). Circular A-11: Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget.

Part 6, Section 200.4: This section discusses types of performance goals and measures. It defines an efficiency goal as focusing on "the cost per unit of output or outcome." This highlights the critical distinction that measures relating cost (input) specifically to an outcome fall under this framework, with cost-effectiveness being the precise term for that relationship.

3. Wholey, J. S., Hatry, H. P., & Newcomer, K. E. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Chapter 18, "Measuring Efficiency: Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis," p. 448: The text states, "Cost-effectiveness analysis relates the costs of a program to its key outcomes or benefits." It clarifies that this analysis is used to compare different programs by examining their "cost per outcome."