This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. In some of our previous articles, we’ve introduced and explained how to use different evaluation planning tools for identifying and assessing outcomes. You might have noticed how there seem to be quite a few tools doing very similar things. It’s no surprise that […]
What program managers need to share with their new evaluators
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. Evaluators – this one’s not for you, but maybe you can share it with some clients! As a program manager or project lead, you may find yourself needing an evaluator. How do you get that evaluator oriented to the project? What information do […]
What’s the difference between goal and objective? The most confusing evaluation jargon
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. I’ve had many experiences collaborating with other evaluators, colleagues, or program managers starting a new evaluation. Questions fly like “Which evaluation framework will we use?”, “What will our approach be?”, “What is the evaluation plan?”. And often, down in the weeds, we question […]
3 Easy Ways to Quantify Your Qualitative Data
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. You’ve completed your qualitative data collection and you’re writing up your report. You step back and look at All. The. Text. If only you had some quantitative data to include in a chart, or some numbers to report! We’ve previously written about how […]
Criteria Based Ranking in Developmental Evaluation
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. Developmental Evaluation is widely implemented and the preferred option for programs that address complex problems such as poverty and homelessness. There is a growing body of literature on Developmental Evaluation (DE) and more and more evaluators are embracing this approach (myself included!). For […]
The “mixing” in mixed methods
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. In evaluation, we use multiple types and sources of data, diverse methods of collection, or multiple evaluators to answer evaluation questions. Data integration is a way of merging these data from different sources through mixed methods. Data integration can enhance reliability in evaluation […]
Finding the Right Sample Size (the Hard Way)
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. In our previous article, ‘Finding the Right Sample Size (the Easy Way)’, we discuss the importance of determining the so-called “correct sample size”. Our recommendation for most applications was to use an online sample size calculator (check out our calculator HERE). However, for […]
Finding the Right Sample Size (the Easy Way)
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. How many respondents do we need to take our survey? Whether it be survey respondents, program participants, or any other group of interest, evaluators are often posed with these “how many” questions. That is, what sample size is required to glean meaningful insight […]
How to use Calendly to schedule interviews like a pro
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. Scheduling can be a nightmare. We have all had the experience of trying to schedule a time to meet with someone and the subsequent cascade of back and forth availability emails that ensue. Now multiply that by the number of people you need […]
The importance of articulating assumptions
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. If you’ve been delving into the world of evaluation and Theory of Change (ToC), you are likely to have come across the concept of “assumptions.” Assumptions have a reputation for causing confusion in evaluation. Articulating assumptions can be a tricky task. Documenting assumptions […]