How will you know what you’re proposing is successful? Evaluation Section How will you know what you’re proposing is successful?

Important Terms Formative vs. summative evaluation Baseline Outcomes Formative - gathering information during the project to provide immediate feedback for change. Summative - primary evaluation at the end of the project Baseline - measure against which you will measure change (pre-project vs. post) Outcomes - measurable results of a project

Types of Evaluations Outcomes-Based (summative, generally) Process-Based (formative, generally) External Evaluation

Qualitative Methods of Evaluation Concerned with examining the process, meanings, properties, or characteristics that are not easily quantified (soft data) Journaling Interviews/focus groups observations Surveys

Quantitative Methods of Evaluation Concerned with numerical data analysis (hard data) surveys testing hypotheses manipulation of variables empirical data collection statistics

Logic Models Way to present an integrated project and evaluation plan Inputs- resources (money, time, equipment) the organization needs to undertake the project Outputs - measurable/tangible effe ts of the activities Outcomes - changes that will come about because of the project. Initial (immediate), intermediate (at or near the end of a project), and long-term (possibly after the project) Indicators - data used to determine whether the planned outcomes of the project were met

Logic Models (contd.) Anderson (2005) Theory of Change In order to develop a program based in the theory of change… Identify long-term goal or outcome (what are you trying to achieve?) Work backwards from the goal by identifying the conditions necessary to achieve it (actions, people, setting, etc.) Identify the interventions you will need to perform to create these preconditions (actions) Develop indicators that describe how you will know when each precondition is met (evaluate)