The Power of Focus Groups in Social Services
Imagine you’re planning a new playground or trying to address a wave of neighborhood break-ins. How do you ensure your approach aligns with what the community truly needs? Focus groups offer a powerful way to understand the nuanced opinions, concerns, and desires of those you serve. They’re not just about gathering information—they’re about building trust,…
How Effective Evaluation Can Transform Social Services
In today’s fast-paced world, social service programs are constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of communities. But how do we know if these programs are effective? How can we ensure that social services are truly making a difference? The answer lies in evaluation—specifically, how we use evaluation to improve outcomes. A recent scoping review…
Conducting Environmental Scans: A Vital Tool for Program Evaluation Professionals
As program evaluators, the ability to conduct thorough environmental scans offers a lens to view the myriad of factors influencing program success in diverse sectors. In this blog, we review the intricacies of environmental scanning, demonstrating its critical role in program evaluation. From mastering data collection techniques to applying these insights in varied contexts, we’ll…
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…
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…
Adversary Evaluation: A Timely Revival for Democratic Debate
The concept of adversary evaluation was introduced in a period that cherished democratic debate, seeking to enhance the assessment of various programs and interventions through a judicial-like process. This method, as detailed in the article “Is Adversary Evaluation Worth a Second Look?” (Sage Journals), involves critical aspects such as human testimony, evidence rules, cross-examination, and…
Qualitative Comparative Analysis as an Evaluation Tool: Unraveling Lessons from Development Cooperation
In recent years, the methodology known as Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) has emerged as a potent tool in evaluation, particularly within the domain of development cooperation. The study Qualitative Comparative Analysis as an Evaluation Tool: Lessons From an Application in Development Cooperation sheds light on its application, revealing both its potential and challenges in the…
Measurement Resource –> ReAL Inventory
The “REaL Inventory Resources” document, released in May 2023, is crucial for evaluators and those involved in public and community health. This comprehensive guide focuses on standardized demographic and language data collection within healthcare settings. Its primary goal is to identify healthcare quality disparities and effectively target interventions. Enhancing Healthcare Equity through Data The “REaL…
Bridging Benefits and Costs: The Dynamic Approach of Business-Nonprofit Hybrid Organizing
The quest for innovative solutions to public health challenges is an ongoing endeavor. A recent article titled “Business–nonprofit hybrid organizing: a dynamic approach to balancing benefits and costs” published in Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics (Read the full article here) provides an insightful perspective into how businesses and nonprofits can collaborate more effectively. As…
