Advancing Social Equity with Community-Focused Evaluation
The quest for social equity is an enduring journey, a path filled with challenges that demand tailored, localized solutions. These solutions can only be designed effectively with a deep understanding of the communities they aim to serve. This is where the power of community-focused evaluation becomes paramount. Community-Focused Evaluation: A Key to Social Equity Community-focused…
Our colleague is going to see NOFX
Our highly respected colleague, Rat Boy, will be traveling to see NOFX. We hope he has a good time. If he has time, we recommend he check out the Bouncing Souls. Back in the early 2000’s, Jon saw the Souls 7 TIMES, but never intended to see them even once! They were just always on…
The Challenges of Visualizing Intersectional Data
Our ability to make sense of voluminous and multi-dimensional data is ever more critical in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. One area where this is particularly prominent is the visualization of intersectional data. Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the 1980s, refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race,…
Revisiting the Past with Retrospective Pretests
Updated November 16, 2023 In research design, we often use diverse methods to draw inferences, better understand our population of interest, and effectively address our research questions. When measuring change or improvements due to a specific intervention or program, one common approach is the pretest-posttest design. This design evaluates respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors before…
The Tale of Homoscedasticity and Heteroscedasticity: Unveiling the Mystery of Variability
When I was a younger graduate student, I learned the greatest word in statistics —Homoscedasticity. So let’s dive in to talk about homoscedasticity, heteroscedasticity, and why it matters even when evaluating programs! A Bit of Background Imagine you are an archer, and you are practicing hitting the bullseye. Sometimes, your arrows hit near the center,…
The Advantages of Being Data-Informed Over Data-Driven
Across all sectors, data has undoubtedly become king. As organizations navigate an increasingly digital landscape, the demand for data has grown exponentially. We often hear buzzwords like “data-driven decision-making,” while the concept seems logical and effective, it can be too restrictive in certain situations. The new wave of thought is to be ‘data-informed’ rather than…
Leveraging Program Evaluation in the Private Sector: Unleashing the Power of Customer Understanding
Today, businesses operate in an increasingly customer-centric world where understanding consumer needs, preferences, and behaviors is paramount. As competition intensifies and market dynamics become increasingly complex, businesses must move beyond traditional data collection and analysis methods. One such methodology that has gained prominence in recent years is program evaluation. Traditionally used in the public and…
AI in Program Evaluation: Harnessing The Power of Advanced Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a driving force for innovation across various sectors. The technology’s versatile nature makes it adaptable to various applications, from predicting consumer behavior to facilitating autonomous vehicles and now, in the domain of program evaluation. However, to fully appreciate the potential of AI in program evaluation, we first need to understand…
A Journey into Implementation Science: Uncovering Trends, Implications, and the Potential of NLP
The field of implementation science is a fascinating realm that continually evolves and expands. As I navigate this dynamic landscape, I find it both stimulating and challenging to keep up with the latest research, emerging trends, and valuable insights that can enhance my work as a researcher or practitioner. However, I’m excited to share an…
Shaping Success: Engaging Key Stakeholders in Program Evaluation
Every evaluation we undertake presents a rich tapestry of challenges, opportunities, and meaningful interactions, woven together with the common thread of stakeholder engagement. Understanding and addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders is a cornerstone of successful evaluation. At Dawn Chorus, we have developed a four-pronged stakeholder approach that helps us navigate this complex ecosystem. This…
Getting to Outcomes: A Comprehensive Program and Evaluation Framework
The “Getting to Outcomes” (GTO) model is a unique program and evaluation framework designed to facilitate effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs. It is a widely recognized framework that provides practical and straightforward assistance to organizations and communities in achieving their desired outcomes. What is Getting to Outcomes (GTO)? Getting to Outcomes is a…
Evolving and Innovating: Layr Research and Our Commitment to Bridge the Gap Between Research and Practice
Hello everyone, I’m thrilled to be sharing some exciting news with you today. We’re turning a new page in our journey, and I am honored to usher in this transformative era for our company. As the CEO of Layr Research, previously known as PubTrawlr, I can tell you that we’ve had a vision of accelerating…
