Articles
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Developing a Logic Model - Check out our templates!
Eval Academy has just released a new free template to help you Develop a Logic Model.
How evaluation has changed the world
Whether it’s by building capacity through the evaluation process or by developing realistic, actionable recommendations, evaluation plays an important part in making a difference on both a small and a grand scale!
Using log frames: why they’re useful and how to make one
In this article, we explain what a Log Frame is (spoiler: it’s not a logic model), why they can be useful tools for program planning and evaluation outside of international development, and how to make one of your own.
How to complete an environmental scan: avoiding the rabbit holes
This article is aimed at those who are new to environmental scanning and are looking for new ways to support program planning and improvement.
How to develop a Theory of Change for evaluation
In this follow-up article, we will walk you through a step-by-step process of how you can develop your own ToC diagram for evaluation purposes.
What is Theory of Change in evaluation?
This article aims to introduce you to Theory of Change (ToC) and is written for those who may have heard of this tool before but aren’t quite sure as to what it is and how it can be useful for evaluation.
Differences between Theory of Change, Log Frames, Results Frameworks and Logic Models – what are they and when to use them
You might have noticed how there seem to be quite a few evaluation tools doing very similar things. It’s no surprise that these tools can sometimes be confused, and the lines can be blurred around when and how to use them. To help you on your way to deciding which tool is best suited to your evaluation, we’ve selected a few of our favourites to compare and contrast.
What program managers need to share with their new evaluators
As a program manager or project lead, you may find yourself needing an evaluator. How do you get that evaluator oriented to the project? What information do they need? Let’s walk through it.
What’s the difference between goal and objective? The most confusing evaluation jargon
The evaluation world is full of jargon! In this article, we list our back-pocket definitions for some of the most confusing evaluation language.
Everything You Need to Know about Likert Scales
The Likert scale is one of the more commonly used rating scales in surveys. As evaluators, we should know a thing or two about it, and how to navigate some of the decisions involved in using a Likert scale.
How can we incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion in evaluation
Recognizing that equitable evaluation is an emerging area of work, this article aims to add to the growing discussion. While it does not include an exhaustive list of issues and strategies, it will help you introduce some changes to your evaluation practice.
Consent Part 2: Do I need to get consent? How do I do that?
Is consent always needed? How do I obtain consent? In this article, we discuss the principles and considerations involved in obtaining consent for evaluation data collection.
Consent Part 1: What is Informed Consent
As an evaluator, a big part of our role is to collect data. Sometimes that data comes from administrative databases that require data sharing agreements, but sometimes it comes from people, who need to consent to sharing their information (or data) with you. So let’s talk about what consent is (and isn’t).
Does my program need a dashboard?
When I hear “we need a dashboard,” what I hear is “we need relatively current information that we can quickly understand and trust, and we want it on one page.” But a dashboard may or may not be the best way to fulfill that need. Here, I’ll clarify what a dashboard is, and what it isn’t, then provide a checklist you can use to decide if your program or organization needs one.
What to Include in your Evaluation RFP
A good RFP will yield good proposals. Unclear RFPs with overly burdensome submission requirements may drive away highly qualified firms or consultants, and what submissions do come may miss your intended mark. If you’re creating an evaluation RFP, include these elements to get better submissions.
How We Evaluated: A Virtual Health Initiative
In this post, we describe how Three Hive Consulting supported the evaluation of a home health monitoring project for patients with chronic conditions.
How to Present Your Evaluation Timelines: 4 Simple Ideas
Here at Eval Academy we are big fans of keeping evaluation simple and that includes how we present our evaluation timelines. These four simple ideas use basic software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) to create clean and easy to understand timelines.
How to Plan Your Evaluation Timelines: 5 Simple Tips
How can you plan and predict your evaluation activities when they are dependent on other activities? How can you ensure you have the information you need when you need it? This article provides 5 tips to answer those questions and help you create a plan that will actually work for your evaluation.
How We Evaluated: A Collaborative of Non-Profits Serving Immigrant and Refugee Youth
This post explores how we at Three Hive Consulting worked with REACH Edmonton Council and other agencies to evaluate a unique initiative called Bridging Together. You’ll see how they developed and carried out an evaluation plan that yielded actionable information.
Evaluation Has a Racism Problem – What Can We Do About It?
The evaluation profession is not immune to structural racism - but what can we do about it? Caldwell and Bledsoe propose systemic changes to our professional organizations in evaluation to help unravel these systems of oppression.