Articles
Explore our latest articles, developed by our team of evaluators and special guests, grounded in real-world experience to support your evaluation practice—whether you're a beginner or an expert.
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Finding The Right Sample Size (The Easy Way)
In this article, we briefly define sample sizes, their importance, and how to calculate them (or how to use a tool to calculate them).
How To Use Calendly To Schedule Interviews Like A Pro
In the evaluation world, scheduling can be a nightmare. This article describes how to use Calendly to schedule interviews in three simple steps.
The Importance Of Articulating Assumptions
In this article, we describe what assumptions are in evaluation, explain why you should document assumptions, and describe how to reflect on your assumptions when collecting and analyzing evaluation results. We also provide some practical examples of how to include assumptions in your own evaluations!
Interpreting Themes From Qualitative Data: Thematic Analysis
This article supports evaluators who are new to qualitative data analysis. We start by defining thematic analysis, then give you a 5-step process to complete your own analysis. We end the article by highlighting some common challenges with thematic analysis.
Evaluation Facilitation Series: Facilitation Activity #1 (Making Metaphors)
This evaluation facilitation series will highlight some of these facilitation activities and how I have applied them over the years. This article focuses on their “Making Metaphors” activity, along with some step-by-step instructions you can use to try it in your own evaluations.
Evaluation Question Examples By Type Of Evaluation
A look at how using different evaluation strategies or frameworks can help you to craft perfect evaluation questions.
Book Review: Developmental Evaluation By Michael Quinn Patton
A book review of Michael Quinn Patton’s Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use (2011).
Grab The Cake, It's Time For A Data Party! Benefits Of And How To Run Your Own
So you've successfully gathered the data you need to evaluate your program. But how do you engage stakeholders and partners to ensure a thorough understanding of the results? A data party could be part of the answer!
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.
A Beginner’s Guide To PivotTables
If you work with data in Excel, whether frequently or infrequently, learning the basics of PivotTables will improve your ability to quickly explore and analyze raw data.
The 10 Metrics Your Evaluation Consultancy Should Track
Part of the job of an evaluator is to identify and define metrics for our clients. But what about you? Are you as disciplined when it comes to defining and tracking metrics for your own business?
What Conversations Do You Need To Have At The Start Of En Evaluation?
Every evaluation is different, but there are a few topics that should be covered in every kick-off meeting.
Eval Academy’s Top 10 Posts Of 2021
To celebrate the end of the year, we thought we’d highlight Eval Academy’s top posts of 2021.
Evaluation Roundup - November 2021
Welcome to our monthly roundup of new and noteworthy evaluation news and resources – here is the latest from November 2021.
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.
The Data Cleaning Toolbox
The end goal of collecting data is to eventually draw meaningful insights from said data. However, the transition from raw data to meaningful insights is not always a linear path. Data are prone to human-error and this guide will help you correct those errors, as well as provide tips on how to minimize these errors in the future.
Evaluation Roundup - October 2021
Welcome to our monthly roundup of new and noteworthy evaluation news and resources – here is the latest from October 2021.
From Data To Actionable Insights
As evaluators, we are rarely organizational decision-makers; it is our job to provide those decision-makers with actionable insights. In this article we highlight how you can translate data into meaningful findings, or insights, so you can support decision-makers to drive action within their organizations.
How (And Whether) To Write Recommendations
What is the scope of an evaluator’s role: should an evaluator make recommendations? Do we tell programs how to improve? Or do we simply share the data with them and let them draw their own conclusions?
Evaluation Report Inspiration: Excerpts From A Breast Cancer Clinic Evaluation
A few years ago, we completed an evaluation for a breast cancer clinic. In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we thought we would highlight some excerpts from that report to help inspire your next evaluation report!