Embracing the Future: How Emerging Technologies Shape the Evaluation Industry
In an era where digital footprints are as impactful as physical ones, the article “Disrupting evaluation? Emerging technologies and their implications for the evaluation industry,” published in Evaluation, heralds a transformative period for the evaluation industry. The study delves deep into the budding relationship between emerging technologies (ET), especially artificial intelligence (AI), and the evaluation…
The Art of Readiness
The article titled The ART of Readiness: A Practical Tool for Implementation Tailoring at the Activity Level presents a groundbreaking approach to implementation science, offering a practical tool named the Activity Readiness Tool (ART). This tool is designed to assess the readiness for specific activities within a larger implementation effort, focusing on discrete determinants of…
The Patterns in Award-Winning Data Storytelling
Data journalism is transforming how we understand and interact with information in the digital age. The article Patterns in Award Winning Data Storytelling by Adegboyega Ojo and Bahareh Heravi, provides an insightful exploration into this evolving field. This blog aims to unpack the key findings of their study and highlight how these insights can be…
101 Days of Implementation Science
Let’s resurrect another old post! This was published back in August 2020. It’s not quite Labor Day in the US, but the last days of summer are winding down. Last week, I took a look at the past few months of evaluation research. Today, let’s take a look at what’s been going on in the…
Diversification of Nonprofit Revenue
The article Risk and Diversification of Nonprofit Revenue Portfolios: Applying Modern Portfolio Theory to Nonprofit Revenue Management by Heng Qu offers a groundbreaking perspective on nonprofit revenue management. This blog aims to focus on the implications for evaluation practice and how these insights can be used to diversify funding sources. Understanding the Core Concept: Modern…
The COVID Malaise: Sentiment Analysis Update
Continuing our exploration of COVID stories from the past! A few months ago, I analyzed IHI’s Stories of COVID for their emotional content. I was interested both in the emotional trends and what types of emotions were contained within the stories. The project appeared to be petering out, though, in the last few days, there…
101 Days of Evaluation: August 25, 2020
Another resurrected post from the past! Lately, I’ve been focused on better ways to synthesize the academic literature. Even when I was a graduate student (and the job description was pretty much 50% reading), I couldn’t keep up with new articles that were coming out seemingly daily. For people who don’t have the luxury of…
Sentiment Analysis of Stories of COVID
Note: This story was originally published in July 2020. We had some updated versions since then, but we’re pulling this back up in case you missed it the first time around. COVID has been incredibly disruptive, not just to our lifestyles but to our moods as well. Passions have been inflamed by differences in how…
Unveiling the Invisible: A Dive into the World of Surveys
Surveys have long been a cornerstone in understanding the invisible yet influential aspects of human cognition: beliefs, perceptions, attitudes, and reasoning. They are more than just a tool for data collection; they are an intricate process of data creation. The article Identifying Variation and Revealing the Invisible from Annual Reviews of Economics is a comprehensive…
the Impact of Participatory Theory-Driven Evaluation in Agricultural Innovation
In the ever-evolving field of agricultural innovation, understanding the effects and contributions of research is crucial. The article “Using a Participatory Theory Driven Evaluation Approach to Identify Causal Mechanisms in Innovation Processes” by Genowefa Blundo-Canto and colleagues provides valuable insights into how agricultural research institutes can enhance their impact analysis through a participatory theory-driven evaluation…
The Science of Fundraising
In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of fundraising, A Brief Introduction to the Science of Fundraising [note, link will download a pdf] by Ashley V. Whillans presents groundbreaking insights. This article, a valuable resource for fundraising professionals, delves into the scientific underpinnings of philanthropy, offering actionable strategies to enhance fundraising efforts. The DIME Model The…
Unlocking the Potential of Non-Profit Fundraising: Insights from “A Brief Introduction to the Science of Fundraising”
Fundraising is the lifeblood of non-profit organizations. It fuels their mission, drives their outreach, and enables them to make a significant impact in the world. Understanding the science behind effective fundraising can, therefore, be a game-changer for these organizations. The whitepaper titled “A Brief Introduction to the Science of Fundraising” [will open a .pdf.] offers…
