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 […]
Interpreting themes from qualitative data: thematic analysis
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. Methods such as interviews and focus groups can be an excellent way to collect qualitative data for your evaluation. Check out our previous article on how to conduct interviews. However, there are lots of methods for making sense of qualitative data. These include […]
Evaluation Facilitation Series: Facilitation Activity #1 (Making Metaphors)
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. Evaluators need to be many things; a good facilitator is high up on the list. We facilitate all sorts of conversations throughout the evaluation process (or at least we should!). Sometimes just posing questions to a group and having a discussion works, but […]
Evaluation Question Examples by Type of Evaluation
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. We’ve defined and written about How to Write Good Evaluation Questions before. We’ve even shared some examples of evaluation questions based on the sector or content area. But there is another way to think about evaluation questions. Let’s look at how using different […]
Book Review: Developmental Evaluation by Michael Quinn Patton
This is an Eval Central archive copy, find the original at evalacademy.com. I recently finished reading Michael Quinn Patton’s Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use (2011) cover-to-cover. I am working on a project using Developmental Evaluation (DE) and felt like I wanted to take a deeper dive into my understanding. I […]