Evaluation Dictionary
Find clear, concise definitions for key terms commonly used in evaluation and social science.
Use the search bar or browse the terms below to deepen your understanding of evaluation concepts!
-
A
- Nov 6, 2019 ATLAS.ti
- Nov 19, 2019 Anecdotal evidence
- Nov 19, 2019 Analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Anonymity
- Nov 19, 2019 Applied research
- Nov 19, 2019 Attribution
- Nov 20, 2019 Activities
- Nov 21, 2019 Attitudes
- Nov 21, 2019 Alternative hypothesis
- Dec 10, 2019 Assessment
- Jan 16, 2020 Appreciative inquiry
- Jan 16, 2020 Assumptions
- Sep 11, 2023 Accountability
- Sep 12, 2023 Action Plan
- Sep 12, 2023 Administrative data
- Sep 13, 2023 Advisory Group
- Sep 13, 2023 Advocacy
- Sep 13, 2023 Aggregate
- Sep 13, 2023 Audit
- Sep 20, 2023 Area graph
- Sep 20, 2023 Audience
- Oct 3, 2023 Accuracy
- Oct 3, 2023 Aim
- Oct 3, 2023 Archival data
-
B
- Nov 19, 2019 Baseline
- Nov 19, 2019 Benchmark
- Nov 19, 2019 Bias
- Nov 19, 2019 Big data
- Jan 16, 2020 Beneficiary evaluation
- Sep 13, 2023 Beneficiaries
- Sep 13, 2023 Benefit Transfer Method
- Sep 20, 2023 Balancing measure
- Sep 20, 2023 Bar graph
- Sep 20, 2023 Blue marble evaluation
- Jan 10, 2024 Barrier
-
C
- Nov 6, 2019 Categorical variable
- Nov 6, 2019 Case study
- Nov 6, 2019 Consent
- Nov 6, 2019 Causation
- Nov 19, 2019 Case control study
- Nov 19, 2019 Chi-square test
- Nov 19, 2019 Cohort
- Nov 19, 2019 Community-based research
- Nov 19, 2019 Comparison group
- Nov 19, 2019 Confidence interval
- Nov 19, 2019 Confidence level
- Nov 19, 2019 Confidentiality
- Nov 19, 2019 Confounding variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Construct
- Nov 19, 2019 Content analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Continuous variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Control group
- Nov 19, 2019 Convenience sampling
- Nov 19, 2019 Correlation
- Nov 19, 2019 Cost-benefit analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Cost effectiveness analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Counterfactual
- Nov 19, 2019 Credentialed evaluator
- Nov 19, 2019 Cross-sectional study
- Nov 19, 2019 Cultural competency
- Nov 21, 2019 Construct validity
- Nov 21, 2019 Content validity
- Nov 21, 2019 Close-ended question
- Nov 21, 2019 Central tendency
- Dec 10, 2019 Client
- Dec 10, 2019 Consultant
- Dec 10, 2019 Collaborative evaluation
- Dec 10, 2019 Consumers
- Jan 16, 2020 Community engagement
- Jan 16, 2020 Contribution analysis
- Sep 12, 2023 Coding
- Sep 12, 2023 Context
- Sep 13, 2023 Collaborative outcomes reporting
- Sep 13, 2023 Conclusion
- Sep 13, 2023 Confirmation bias
- Sep 13, 2023 Constructivism
- Sep 13, 2023 Continuous quality improvement (CQI)
- Sep 13, 2023 Criteria Based Ranking (CBR)
- Sep 20, 2023 Calendly
- Sep 20, 2023 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)
- Sep 20, 2023 Criteria Based Ranking (CBR)
- Sep 20, 2023 Critical systems heuristics (CSH)
- Oct 3, 2023 Collaboration
- Mar 6, 2024 Code
- Mar 6, 2024 Codebook
-
D
- Nov 19, 2019 Data analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Data cleaning
- Nov 19, 2019 Data collection
- Nov 19, 2019 Data management
- Nov 19, 2019 Data reduction
- Nov 19, 2019 Data source
- Nov 19, 2019 Data viz
- Nov 19, 2019 Database
- Nov 19, 2019 Delphi technique
- Nov 19, 2019 Dependent variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Design thinking
- Nov 19, 2019 Developmental evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Dichotomous variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Discrete variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Distribution
- Nov 19, 2019 Document review
- Nov 21, 2019 Demographic information
- Jan 16, 2020 Data sharing agreement
- Sep 6, 2021 Dashboard
- Sep 12, 2023 Data
- Sep 12, 2023 DEI
- Sep 12, 2023 Deductive coding
- Sep 13, 2023 Direct cost
- Sep 18, 2023 Data dictionary
- Sep 18, 2023 Dedoose
- Sep 20, 2023 Data collection matrix
- Sep 20, 2023 Data collection tools
- Sep 20, 2023 Defensibility
- Sep 20, 2023 Diffusion of Innovation (DOI)
- Sep 20, 2023 Discounting
- Sep 20, 2023 Dissemination
- Sep 20, 2023 Dot plot
- Sep 21, 2023 Deliverology
- Oct 3, 2023 Data placemats
- Oct 3, 2023 Democratic evaluation
- Oct 3, 2023 Determinant Frameworks
- Jan 11, 2024 Data party
- Jan 11, 2024 Data Stewardship
- Jan 11, 2024 Data Steward
- Jan 11, 2024 Data ownership
- Jan 11, 2024 Data governance
- Jan 11, 2024 Data owner
- Jan 15, 2024 Data quality
- Jan 15, 2024 Determinants
-
E
- Nov 19, 2019 Evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Evaluation design
- Nov 19, 2019 Evaluation framework
- Nov 19, 2019 Ex-ante evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Ex-post evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Ex-post facto design
- Nov 19, 2019 Executive summary
- Nov 19, 2019 Experimental design
- Nov 19, 2019 External evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Extrapolate
- Dec 10, 2019 Evaluation questions
- Dec 10, 2019 Evaluand
- Dec 10, 2019 Evaluator
- Jan 16, 2020 Environmental scan
- Sep 20, 2023 Economic evaluation
- Sep 20, 2023 Effect
- Sep 20, 2023 Effectiveness
- Sep 20, 2023 Empowerment evaluation
- Sep 20, 2023 Engagement
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluability
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluation capacity
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluation plan
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluation rubric
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluation science
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluation scientist
- Sep 20, 2023 Evaluative thinking
- Oct 3, 2023 Ethnography
- Oct 3, 2023 Evaluability assessment
- Oct 3, 2023 Evaluation purpose
- Oct 3, 2023 External factors
- Oct 3, 2023 External validity
- Jan 10, 2024 Enablers
- Mar 18, 2024 Ethics
-
F
- Nov 19, 2019 Formative evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Face validity
- Nov 19, 2019 Focus group
- Nov 19, 2019 Formal interview
- Jan 16, 2020 Field notes
- Oct 3, 2023 Facilitator
- Oct 3, 2023 Feasibility
- Oct 3, 2023 Finding
- Oct 3, 2023 Fishbowl technique
- Oct 3, 2023 Framework analysis
- Oct 3, 2023 Frequencies
- Mar 26, 2024 Focused interview
-
G
- Nov 19, 2019 Generalizability
- Nov 19, 2019 Goal
- Nov 19, 2019 Grounded theory
- Nov 21, 2019 Gini index
- Dec 11, 2019 Gender analysis
- Oct 3, 2023 Gap analysis
- Oct 3, 2023 Goal statement
-
H
- Nov 19, 2019 Hawthorne effect
- Nov 19, 2019 Hypothesis
- Dec 10, 2019 Halo effect
- Oct 3, 2023 Horizontal evaluation
- Oct 3, 2023 Horn effect
-
I
- Nov 19, 2019 Impact
- Nov 19, 2019 Impact analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Impact assessment
- Nov 19, 2019 Impact evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Independent variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Index
- Nov 19, 2019 Indicator
- Nov 19, 2019 Input
- Nov 19, 2019 Internal evaluation
- Nov 21, 2019 Informal interview
- Nov 21, 2019 Interview
- Jan 16, 2020 Indigenous evaluation
- Jan 16, 2020 Implementation science
- Jan 16, 2020 Infographic
- Jan 16, 2020 Intersectionality
- Sep 13, 2023 Indirect cost
- Sep 20, 2023 Intervention
- Sep 20, 2023 Interval data
- Sep 20, 2023 Internal validity
- Sep 20, 2023 Inter rater reliability
- Sep 20, 2023 Intended users
- Sep 20, 2023 Instrument
- Oct 3, 2023 Immediate or short-term outcome
- Oct 3, 2023 Implementation
- Oct 3, 2023 Implementation plan
- Oct 3, 2023 Implementation strategy
- Oct 3, 2023 Incidence
- Oct 3, 2023 Independent evaluator
- Oct 3, 2023 Indirect benefit
- Oct 3, 2023 Inductive coding
- Oct 3, 2023 Inference
- Oct 3, 2023 Inferential statistics
- Jan 15, 2024 Innovation
- Mar 18, 2024 Information management (IM)
- Mar 18, 2024 Information manager
- Mar 18, 2024 Information manager agreement (IMA)
- Mar 26, 2024 Information source
-
J
- Sep 18, 2023 Judgement
- Sep 18, 2023 Joint evaluation
- Oct 3, 2023 Journey map
-
K
- Sep 18, 2023 Key performance indicator (KPI)
- Sep 18, 2023 Key informant
- Jan 15, 2024 Kirkpatrick Model
- Jan 15, 2024 Knowledge translation
- Jan 15, 2024 Knowledge-to-Action
- Jan 15, 2024 Knowledge exchange
- Jan 15, 2024 Knowledge management (KM)
-
L
- Nov 19, 2019 Likert-type scale
- Nov 19, 2019 Longitudinal data
- Nov 19, 2019 Longitudinal study
- Nov 21, 2019 Logic model
- Jan 16, 2020 Literature review
- Oct 3, 2023 Line graph
- Jan 15, 2024 Learning framework
- Mar 26, 2024 Log Frame
- Mar 26, 2024 Long-term outcome
-
M
- Nov 19, 2019 Mid-term evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Marginalized populations
- Nov 19, 2019 Mean
- Nov 19, 2019 Meta-evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Measures
- Nov 19, 2019 Measurement
- Nov 19, 2019 Median
- Nov 19, 2019 Meta-analysis
- Nov 19, 2019 Methods
- Nov 19, 2019 Methodology
- Nov 19, 2019 Metric
- Nov 19, 2019 Mission
- Nov 19, 2019 Mixed methods
- Nov 19, 2019 Monitoring
- Nov 19, 2019 Mode
- Nov 19, 2019 Monitoring system
- Nov 19, 2019 Most significant change
- Dec 10, 2019 Merit
- Jan 16, 2020 Monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
- Sep 18, 2023 Multiple methods
- Sep 20, 2023 Maximum variation sampling
- Oct 3, 2023 Marginal distribution
- Oct 3, 2023 Moderator
- Oct 3, 2023 Multivariate analysis (MVA)
- Jan 15, 2024 Milestone
- Jan 15, 2024 Multiple-Criteria Decision Approach (MCDA)
- Mar 11, 2024 Mechanisms
- Mar 26, 2024 Medium term outcome
-
N
- Nov 19, 2019 Needs assessment
- Nov 19, 2019 Nominal variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Non-response bias
- Nov 19, 2019 Normal distribution
- Nov 19, 2019 Null hypothesis
- Nov 19, 2019 NVivo
- Sep 12, 2023 Normal curve
- Sep 20, 2023 Normalization Process Theory (NPT)
- Oct 3, 2023 Nested area graph
- Oct 3, 2023 Non-parametric tests
- Jan 15, 2024 Network evaluation
- Mar 26, 2024 Norm (statistics)
- Mar 26, 2024 Norm (social)
-
O
- Nov 6, 2019 Ordinal variable
- Nov 19, 2019 Observational study
- Nov 19, 2019 Open-ended question
- Nov 19, 2019 Outcome
- Nov 19, 2019 Outcome harvesting
- Nov 19, 2019 Outlier
- Nov 19, 2019 Output
- Nov 21, 2019 Objectivity
- Dec 10, 2019 Outcome evaluation
- Dec 10, 2019 Objective
- Dec 10, 2019 Objectives
- Dec 10, 2019 Open-ended interview
- Dec 10, 2019 Opportunity costs
- Sep 20, 2023 Outcome measure
- Sep 20, 2023 Observation
- Oct 3, 2023 Online survey
- Jan 10, 2024 Outcome mapping (OM)
- Jan 15, 2024 Outcome chain
- Mar 11, 2024 Outcome measurement
- Mar 14, 2024 Operational definition
- Mar 18, 2024 Observation tool
- Mar 18, 2024 Operational plan
- Mar 26, 2024 Operationalize
-
P
- Nov 19, 2019 Performance evaluation
- Nov 19, 2019 Process evaluation
- Nov 20, 2019 Participant observation
- Nov 20, 2019 Participatory evaluation
- Nov 20, 2019 Peer review
- Nov 20, 2019 Photovoice
- Nov 20, 2019 Population
- Nov 20, 2019 Purposive sampling
- Nov 20, 2019 Probability sampling
- Nov 20, 2019 Probability sample
- Nov 20, 2019 Probe
- Nov 20, 2019 Program evaluation
- Nov 20, 2019 Protocol
- Nov 21, 2019 Program theory
- Nov 21, 2019 Principles-focused evaluation
- Sep 20, 2023 Process measure
- Sep 20, 2023 Process improvement
- Sep 20, 2023 Problem statement
- Sep 20, 2023 Privacy impact assessment (PIA)
- Sep 20, 2023 Primary intended users
- Sep 20, 2023 Prevalence
- Sep 20, 2023 Power
- Oct 3, 2023 P-Value
- Oct 3, 2023 Performance appraisal
- Oct 3, 2023 Phenomenology
- Oct 3, 2023 Pie chart
- Oct 3, 2023 Pivot tables
- Oct 3, 2023 Pivot charts
- Oct 4, 2023 Plan-do-study-act (PDSA)
- Oct 4, 2023 Positivism
- Oct 4, 2023 Post-test
- Oct 4, 2023 Pre-test
- Jan 10, 2024 Personally-Identifying Information (PII)
- Jan 10, 2024 Probability
- Jan 10, 2024 Psychometrics
- Jan 10, 2024 Primacy effect
- Jan 10, 2024 Parameter
- Jan 15, 2024 Pulse survey
- Jan 15, 2024 Pilot
- Jan 15, 2024 Power (stats)
- Jan 15, 2024 Project evaluation
- Jan 15, 2024 Panel data
- Mar 6, 2024 Performance measurement
- Mar 11, 2024 Primary data
- Mar 11, 2024 Policy analysis
- Mar 14, 2024 Privacy
- Mar 18, 2024 Partner
- Mar 26, 2024 Program model
- Mar 26, 2024 Pilot test
-
Q
- Nov 20, 2019 Qualitative data analysis software
- Nov 20, 2019 Qualitative data
- Nov 20, 2019 Quality improvement
- Nov 20, 2019 Quantitative data
- Nov 20, 2019 Quantitative data analysis
- Nov 20, 2019 Quasi-experimental design
- Nov 20, 2019 Questionnaire
- Nov 21, 2019 Qualitative data analysis
-
R
- Nov 20, 2019 Random sampling
- Nov 20, 2019 Randomization
- Nov 20, 2019 Research
- Nov 20, 2019 Reference manager
- Nov 20, 2019 Reliability
- Nov 21, 2019 R programming language
- Nov 21, 2019 Response rate
- Sep 18, 2023 RE-AIM
- Jan 10, 2024 Randomized control trial (RCT)
- Jan 10, 2024 Radar graphs
- Jan 10, 2024 Reach
- Jan 10, 2024 Recall bias
- Jan 10, 2024 Recency effect
- Jan 10, 2024 Recommendation
- Jan 10, 2024 Reference
- Jan 10, 2024 Return on Investment (ROI)
- Mar 11, 2024 Realist evaluation
- Mar 11, 2024 Rationale
- Mar 11, 2024 Research impact assessment (RIA)
- Mar 11, 2024 Responsiveness
- Mar 11, 2024 Results chain
- Mar 12, 2024 Rich pictures
- Mar 13, 2024 Risk analysis
- Mar 13, 2024 Risk matrix
- Mar 18, 2024 Request for proposal (RFP)
- Mar 26, 2024 Results framework
-
S
- Nov 20, 2019 Sampling
- Nov 20, 2019 Self-selection bias
- Nov 20, 2019 Semi-structured interview
- Nov 20, 2019 Small multiples
- Nov 20, 2019 Social network analysis
- Nov 20, 2019 SPSS
- Nov 20, 2019 Stakeholder
- Nov 20, 2019 Standard deviation
- Nov 20, 2019 STATA
- Nov 20, 2019 Statistics
- Nov 20, 2019 Strategic planning
- Nov 20, 2019 Summative evaluation
- Nov 20, 2019 Sustainability
- Nov 20, 2019 Systems thinking
- Nov 21, 2019 Survey
- Nov 21, 2019 Statistically significant
- Nov 21, 2019 Structured interview
- Nov 21, 2019 Spurious correlation
- Sep 13, 2023 Sample
- Sep 13, 2023 Snowball sampling
- Sep 13, 2023 Social Return on Investment (SROI)
- Jan 10, 2024 SWOT analysis
- Jan 10, 2024 Sampling bias
- Jan 10, 2024 SAS
- Jan 10, 2024 Scatter plot
- Jan 10, 2024 SMART Goal
- Jan 10, 2024 Sparkline
- Jan 10, 2024 Stacked bar chart
- Jan 10, 2024 Stratification
- Jan 10, 2024 Statistic
- Mar 11, 2024 Secondary data
- Mar 13, 2024 Scope
- Mar 13, 2024 Scope Creep
- Mar 13, 2024 Social desirability bias
- Mar 13, 2024 Social impact assessment
- Mar 13, 2024 Social innovation lab
- Mar 13, 2024 Stakeholder matrix
- Mar 13, 2024 Stakeholder analysis
- Mar 13, 2024 Standing
- Mar 13, 2024 Steering committee
- Mar 13, 2024 Subjectivity
- Mar 13, 2024 Survivorship bias
- Mar 14, 2024 Standardized tool
- Mar 26, 2024 Stratified Random Sampling
-
T
- Nov 21, 2019 t-test
- Nov 21, 2019 Thematic analysis
- Nov 21, 2019 Theory of change
- Nov 21, 2019 Transcription
- Nov 21, 2019 Triangulation
- Nov 21, 2019 Treatment group
- Jan 10, 2024 Test re-test reliability
- Jan 10, 2024 Type I error
- Jan 10, 2024 Type II error
- Mar 6, 2024 Theme
- Mar 13, 2024 Target
- Mar 13, 2024 Terms of reference (ToR)
- Mar 13, 2024 Threshold
- Mar 13, 2024 Time series study
-
U
- Nov 21, 2019 Unstructured interview
- Sep 12, 2023 Utilization-focused evaluation (U-FE)
- Jan 10, 2024 Unintended results
- Mar 13, 2024 Undercoverage
- Mar 13, 2024 Utility
-
V
- Nov 21, 2019 Validity
- Nov 21, 2019 Variance
- Nov 21, 2019 Vision
- Dec 10, 2019 Vulnerable populations
- Mar 6, 2024 Value of a Statistical Life (VSL)
- Mar 14, 2024 Values
- Mar 14, 2024 Value Statement
- Mar 14, 2024 Voluntary response bias
- Mar 18, 2024 Virtual interviewing
-
W
- Jan 15, 2024 Work plan
- Jan 15, 2024 Working group
- Jan 15, 2024 World café