Simon Hearn

"How can qualitative researchers collect data during social-distancing measures? Adam Jowett outlines several techniques researchers can use to collect data without face-to-face contact with participants.

This discussion paper discusses the meaning of 'impact', moving beyond methodological debates to present different perspectives and dimensions that can affect how impact could be framed and evaluated.

Timely information about people’s desires could improve policy-makers’ ability to allocate resources to maximum effect and monitor interventions and outcomes.

The report was commissioned to help Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation staff approach the evaluation of their policy-advocacy work.  It details the evolution of M&E in advocacy and policy influence, discusses the theo

This whitepaper, by Noah Iliinsky, IBM Visualisation Expert, covers the various visual properties of data visualisation and how to appropriately apply them to various types of data.

Gephi is an open-source software package for visualizing and exploring networks and complex systemsGephi software can be used for: 

NodeXL for Microsoft® Excel® 2007 and 2010 is a free open-source template that makes it easy to explore network graphs. 

Three linked presentations from Jane Davidson, Nan Wehipeihana & Kate McKegg explaining how rubrics can be used to ensure evaluations validly answer evaluative questions. 

This guide from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was designed to support evaluators engage their stakeholders in the evaluation process.

This manual provides a step-by-step guide to the process of conducting a social network analysis by using Netdraw, which is a free software tool that allows the visualisation of social networks.

This tool kit presents entry points and references to the wide range of tools and methods that have been used to facilitate improved knowledge and learning in the development and humanitarian sectors.

Ucinet 6 for Windows is a software package for analyzing and drawing social networks developed by Lin Freeman, Martin Everett and Steve Borgatti.  This software is available for a free 90 day trial period. 

Open Space World is a global community resource supporting the use of the Open Space method by which groups of any size can create effective meetings and events.

The Point K Learning Center's website of free tools and resources h

International development is fixated with impact. But how do we know we’re all talking about the same thing?

Overseas Development Institute (ODI) has published a “10 things to know about evaluation” infographic, in support of the

Simon Hearn continues BetterEvaluation’s theme on the monitoring and evaluation of policy change by suggesting a set of measures to help those struggling to monitor the slippery area of policy influence and advocacy.

BetterEvaluation was privileged to sponsor the Methodological Innovation stream at the African Evaluation Association (AfREA) conference from 3-7 March. What did we learn?

My 2014 evaluation events calendar was launched in earnest this week with a workshop hosted by the US Institute of Medicine focusing on evaluation methods and considerations for large-scale, complex, mult

This two part mini-series looks at 

  Image source: christmasstockimages.com

I'm sure most of our readers will agree that the goal of evaluation is not the fulfilment of a contract to undertake a study but the improvement in social and environmental conditions:

Whether you are commissioning an evaluation, designing one or implementing one, having - and sharing - a very clear understanding of what is being evaluated is paramount.

One of the most effective ways of learning about the evaluation field is to attend a conference, present your work and interact with other professionals.

As part of developing the BetterEvaluation site, we ran an "Evaluation Challenge" process, inviting people to submit their biggest challenges in evaluation, and then inviting experts to suggest ways to address these.

 

BetterEvaluation is on the ground at the European Evaluation Society 10th Biannual conference in Helsinki this week.

This is an update for our early site users on what's been going on in August. The website is still under development but we are now undertaking a series of tests in anticipation of going live.

Influencing and informing policy is the main aim for many development organisations. However, activities directed at policy change are, in general, very hard to monitor and evaluate.

Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to organisational change which focuses on strengths rather than on weaknesses - quite different to many approaches to evaluation which focus on deficits and problems.

Outcome Mapping is an approach that helps unpack an initiative’s theory of change and provides a framework to collect data on the immediate, basic changes that lead to longer, more transformative change. This allows for the plausible assessment of the initiative’s contribution to results.

Evaluation management often involves a steering group, which makes the decisions about the evaluation.

RAPID outcome assessment (ROA) is a method to assess and map the contribution of a project’s actions on a particular change in policy or the policy environment.

The SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that encourages group or individual reflection on and assessment of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

The after action review (AAR) is a simple method for facilitating an assessment of organisational performance by bringing together a team to discuss a task, event, activity or project in an open and honest fashion.

Episode studies are an excellent way of investigating the influence of research on policy.