The BetterEvaluation Resource Library contains hundreds of curated and co-created resources related to managing, conducting, using, and strengthening capacity for evaluation.
You can use the search field and filtering on this page to find resources that you are interested in or you can browse our extensive list. An alternative way to find resources best suited to your needs is to explore the Rainbow Framework, where you can find resources relating to evaluation methods, approaches and tasks.
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Innovation in Operations Assessment Recent Developments in Measuring Results in Conflict Environments
This publication, edited by edited by Andrew Williams, James Bexfield, Fabrizio Fitzgerald Farina and Johannes de Nijs for NATO looks at innovation within in the area of capability development paQuality standards for realist syntheses and meta-narrative reviews
This paper, written by Geoff Wong, Trish Greenhalgh, Gill Westhrop and Ray Pawson for The RAMESES project outlines a set of quality standards for conducting rEssential tools to track your social media data
This infographic by Infographic World identifies the key data to be measured and specific tools and applications for tracking different social media profiles.Theory-based approaches to evaluation: Concepts and practices
This web page from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provides an outline of some of the key concepts of theory-based approaches to evaluation.5 differences between complexity & systems thinking
This blog post by Sonja Blignaut for More Beyond discusses some of the clear distinctions between complexity thinking and systems thinking.Embracing Complexity in Social Enterprise Evaluation
This lecture, given by Brenda Zimmerman, Associate Professor of Policy at York University’s Schulich School of Business, outlines a number of approaches for addressing complexity in evaluations.Monitoring & evaluation of advocacy campaigns literature review
This literature review, written by Cristina Mansfield for the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), examines current thinking in the evaluation of advocacy.Amplifying Learning in Systems Change Investments: An Experience in Developmental Evaluation
This issues brief from the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning (OMG) describes the experience of using a developmental evaluation approach in order to evaluate theWeighting of agricultural research results: Strength and limitations of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)
This paper discusses the usefulness of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in weighting agricultural research results in ex-post research evaluation.Assessing the impact of agricultural research on poverty using the sustainable livelihoods framework
This discussion brief considers the benefits of using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to assess the impact of research on agricultural poverty.Revolutionary Google-backed system unlocks power of big data to save forests
This blog post from Rhett A Butler for Mongabay.com outlines the use of a new tool, Global Forest Watch, which uses big data to monitor global forests on a monthly basis. Utilising Google’s computing cloud the tool is able to analyseSmart Data Visualization
This podcast by Stephanie Evergreen, for , outlines the smart use and analyses of data visualisation foIs “Ambient Data” from Social Media Channels Useful for Funders?
This blog post from Beth Kanter discusses the pros and cons of using data from social media to inform funding decisions.Taking stock of empowerment evaluation: An empirical review
This article, written by Robin Lin Miller and Rebecca Campbell, examines 47 case studies of empowerment evaluation in order to assess their effectiveness in adhering to empowerment evaluation principles and in achieving outcomes that eChildren’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship
This essay, written by Roger A Hart for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) analyses the research on children in order to demonstrate the benefits of genuine child participation.What scientific idea is ready for retirement: Large randomized controlled trials
This comment, written by Dean Ornish and published on the Edge.org blog What scientific idea is ready for retirement, argues that larger studies do not always equate to more rigorous or definitive reScientifically based evaluation methods
This comment from the American Evaluation Association (AEA) was written in response to a US Department of Education proposed priority for evaluating educational programs using scientifically based methods.The importance of a methodologically diverse approach to impact evaluation
This statement from the European Evaluation Society (EES) argues that randomised control trials are not necessarily the best way to ensure a rigorous or scientific impact evaluation assessment (IE) for development and development aid.Closing feedback loops: From engaged citizens to more responsive governments
This webpage from The World Bank Institute looks at the impact of citizen engagement on development outcomes.Using feedback effectively in peacebuilding contexts
This blogpost, written by E Duncan for DME for Peace, looks at the use of feedback in Peacebuilding contexts.Identifiying and documenting “Lessons Learned”: A list of references
Monitoring and Evaluation NEWS, managed by Rick Davies, have compiled a provisional list of Lessons Learnt resources.RAPID Outcome Assessment
This paper from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) outlines the process for conducting a RAPID Outcomes Assessment.Correlation and Causation (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Part of the Australian Bureau of Statistic's Statistic Language website, this guide to Correlation and Causation is easy to follow and explains the major features of correlation and its difference from causation.Five misunderstandings about case-study research
This article, written by Bent Flyvbjerg (Aalborg University, Denmark) examines five common misunderstandings about case-study research.How to visualise your data using a motion chart
This blog post by Rob Worthington introduces motion charts and their utility. It explains how to create your own motion charts using Google Docs and how to embed it in a website.Conflict-sensitive approaches to development practice.
This guide, written by Cynthia Gaigals with Manuela Leonhardt for Safer World provides a critical overview of different approaches used by a variety of groups in conflict-proneContemporary Thinking about Causation in Education Evaluation: A Dialogue with Tom Cook and Michael Scriven
In this presentation, Tom Cook and Michael Scriven for The Evaluation Center, discuss the latest methodological developments in using randomised-control trials in educational and other&nExcel charts: Pie charts
This webpage, written by Jorge Camoes for ExcelCharts, outlines the arguments for and against using pie charts and then provides detailed advice and some dos and don'ts for using them.Word clouds considered harmful
This article by Jacob Harris for NiemanLab provides a careful consideration of the argument against word clouds.The risks of using choropleth maps
This blog post by Patricia Rogers looks at some of the risks of using choropleth maps.Participatory Analysis: Expanding Stakeholder Involvement in Evaluation
This paper, written by Veena Pankaj, Myia Welsh, and Laura Ostenso for the Innovation Network uses the case studies of three organisations that have used participatory analysis to exWhat is a complex system and how is it different?
This video presentation from Chris Wood, Michael Quinn Patton and Ben Ramalingam for USAID looks at complex systems and how they are different from the norm.