Usain Bolt: A Statistical Analysis of Speed
Usain Bolt is synonymous with speed, precision, and an unyielding drive for greatness. Known as the fastest man alive, Bolt’s performances in the 100-meter dash have left spectators in awe and competitors in the dust. But just how extraordinary were Bolt’s achievements? How much did he truly stand out from the field? In this blog…
Navigating the Stages of Collaboration
Dive into the transformative world of collective engagement with Arthur Himmelman’s collaboration stages. His model – progressing from networking to coordination, cooperation, and finally collaboration – is a journey that gradually amplifies trust, risk, and joint decision-making. For program evaluation and capacity-building professionals, Himmelman’s approach is not just a lens to view your work but…
Leveraging Implementation Science for Business Success
Implementation Science is a rapidly growing discipline dedicated to studying methods and strategies to promote the uptake of research findings into routine practice. But this isn’t just a field for academics and healthcare professionals – it also holds transformative potential for businesses in the private sector. This blog post aims to introduce the concept of…
Developing a Marketing Plan Using the Getting to Outcomes 10-Step Framework
The Getting to Outcomes (GTO) framework, traditionally applied in the public health sector, is a 10-step approach to planning and evaluation proven to improve interventions’ quality and effectiveness. This framework provides a concrete path to achieving specific, intended outcomes. Although not its original purpose, the GTO model can also be instrumental in developing marketing plans…
Applying Collective Impact in Program Evaluation
The field of social change has evolved significantly over the years, embracing approaches that foster synergy and maximize impact. One such progressive approach is the concept of Collective Impact, a framework that guides multiple organizations toward a common agenda for solving complex social problems. This blog will discuss the principles of Collective Impact and explore…
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…
Exploring Anscombe’s Quartet
Data analysis is at the heart of decision-making, and community practitioners strive to harness the power of information to improve their communities. However, relying solely on summary statistics can sometimes lead to misleading conclusions. Enter Anscombe’s quartet, a fascinating set of datasets that challenges our assumptions and reminds us of the significance of data visualization.…
