Baseline is defined as:

Baseline is defined as:

• A. The final data used to judge program success.
• B. The data used to compare outcomes against external benchmarks.
• C. Data gathered at the onset of evaluation, defining a starting point.
• D. Qualitative impressions gathered from stakeholders.

Answer: (C)

Baseline is the initial data collected before any program activity begins, establishing the starting point for evaluation. This starting point lets you measure change over time by comparing later outcomes to where you began. It should use the same measures you’ll use for follow-up so comparisons are meaningful. It’s not the final data used to judge program success—that comes after implementation. It’s not external benchmarks, which involve comparisons to others. It’s not qualitative impressions from stakeholders; baseline data are systematically collected information at the outset. For example, you’d record a student’s initial reading level before starting a new instructional program, then compare later scores to that starting point to assess progress.

Baseline is the initial data collected before any program activity begins, establishing the starting point for evaluation. This starting point lets you measure change over time by comparing later outcomes to where you began. It should use the same measures you’ll use for follow-up so comparisons are meaningful. It’s not the final data used to judge program success—that comes after implementation. It’s not external benchmarks, which involve comparisons to others. It’s not qualitative impressions from stakeholders; baseline data are systematically collected information at the outset. For example, you’d record a student’s initial reading level before starting a new instructional program, then compare later scores to that starting point to assess progress.