Think you can’t do evaluation yourself? In this segment we explore some common myths about evaluation. Come learn why it may be easier than you think to start evaluating your programs today.

#1 Myth: Evaluation is scientific and must be done only by experts

Truth: Evaluation is systematic and can be done by anyone.

Every evaluation presents challenges and opportunities, offering lessons that extend beyond the scope of a single project. Such is the case with two evaluations we recently conducted for obesity- reduction programs. Obesity has received media attention as a national epidemic, and an enormous number of programs and initiatives have arisen to address the problem. What’s working?

When assessing the effectiveness of a media campaign, anecdotal information and gut reactions are not enough. Public communication and media campaign evaluation is still a developing field, but one major player, the Communication Consortium Media Center (CCMC) is leading the way. The Media Evaluation Project shares cutting-edge research from field experts to help you evaluate your next media campaign.