Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Your Online Source for Credible Health Information
Division of Adolescent and School Health — Writing Good Goals and SMART Objectives Tutorials
Back     Next          Home     Menu     Tools     Glossary     Help     Print

SMART Objectives

Specific, Measurable, & Time-Phased

Each SMART objective statement should reflect whether it is Specific, Measurable, or Time-phased.

Specific: Who? What?
Measurable: How much?
Time-phased: By when?

To determine whether an objective is Achievable or Realistic, you should review the entire workplan to assess
resources and program scope.

Activity: SMART Objective Dissection

Directions
For the following objective, click the criterion (Specific, Measurable, or Time-phased) that most accurately describes the associated segment.

Objective
By the end of the fiscal year, a model school health policy will be distributed to 20% of the school districts in our state.

Segment 1: By the end of the fiscal year, Segment 2: a model school health policy Segment 3: will be distributed to 20% Segment 4: of the school districts in our state.

*Please note: if you experience inconsistency when choosing a response, please de-select & re-select your choice.

  1. Segment 1: By the end of the fiscal year,
    • Specific

      Incorrect.

      This is Time-phased. It answers the question By when?

    • Measurable

      Incorrect.

      This is Time-phased. It answers the question By when?

    • Time-phased

      Correct!

      It answers the question By when?

  2. Segment 2: a model school health policy...
    • Specific

      Correct!

      It answers the question What?

    • Measurable

      Incorrect.

      This is Specific. It answers the question What?

    • Time-phased

      Incorrect.

      This is Specific. It answers the question What?

  3. Segment 3: will be distributed to 20%...
    • Specific

      Incorrect.

      This is Measurable. It answers the question How much?

    • Measurable

      Correct!

      It answers the question How much?

    • Time-phased

      Incorrect.

      This is Measurable. It answers the question How much?

  4. Segment 4: of the school districts in our state.
    • Specific

      Correct!

      It answers the question Who?

    • Measurable

      Incorrect.

      This is Specific. It answers the question Who?

    • Time-phased

      Incorrect.

      This is Specific. It answers the question Who?

[Flash Text Version for 508:]

This activity is used to help you recall/reinforce the criteria for SMART objectives by identifying the criteria within a written statement.
Criteria for SMART objectives are :

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Time-phased

The statement: “By the end of the fiscal year, a model school health policy will be distributed to 20% of Kentucky school districts.”

By the end of the fiscal year = Time-phased

a model school health policy = Specific

will be distributed to 20% = Measurable

of Kentucky school districts = Specific

 

Back 8 of 13 Next

 




USA GOV HHS