What are Kirkpatrick's four levels of evaluation?

Level 1: Reaction (did participants find the programme valuable?); Level 2: Learning (did knowledge or skills increase?); Level 3: Behaviour (are new skills applied in practice?); Level 4: Results (what organisational outcomes improved?). Phillips added Level 5: ROI (what is the net monetary return?).

What ROI should educational interventions achieve?

Federal evidence standards (IES/WWC) focus on effect sizes rather than financial ROI. For corporate training, ATD reports average ROI of 45–150%. For educational technology investments, districts typically expect ROI of 25–75% after accounting for cost of implementation and professional development.

Educational Programme Evaluation ROI (Kirkpatrick)

Formula Definitions

The Educational Programme Evaluation ROI (Kirkpatrick) works by applying a well-defined formula to the values you enter. Understanding the formula behind the calculation helps you interpret the result and check that your inputs are correct. Below we break down the key components that drive the Programme Evaluation ROI.

The core formula used by this calculator is:

Result = f(inputs, settings)

Each variable in the formula has a specific meaning:

inputs — Values entered into the Programme Evaluation ROI.
settings — Options, units, or parameters that adjust how the calculation is performed.
Result — Computed output for the chosen inputs and settings.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the required values. Enter the required values into the Educational Programme Evaluation ROI (Kirkpatrick) input fields.
Adjust settings. Adjust any settings, select applicable options, or choose units as needed.
Calculate the result. Press Calculate to compute the result using the underlying formula.
Interpret the output. Review and interpret your result using the provided context, reference ranges, or explanatory notes.

Glossary and Definitions

Input: A value entered into the calculator to be processed.
Output: The computed result returned by the calculator for the given inputs.
Setting: An option that adjusts how the calculation is performed, such as unit selection or mode.
Programme evaluation: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.
Kirkpatrick model: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.
Training ROI: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.
Educational ROI: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.
Phillips Level 5: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.
Evaluation framework: A key concept referenced by the Programme Evaluation ROI: Calculate educational programme ROI using the Phillips Level 5 evaluation model built on Kirkpatrick's 4-level framework. ROI = (programme benefits – programme costs) / programme costs × 100. Monetises student outcome improvements.