Browse ACTION Resources
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Data and Information Visualization Throughout the Evaluation Life Cycle for Participatory Evaluation and Evaluation Capacity Innovation Network shared approaches and examples of how to incorporate innovative data and information visualization techniques throughout each stage of the evaluation life cycle to support participatory evaluation and build evaluation capacity. In the planning and design phase mind mapping can be used to promote brainstorming and idea generation. In the data collection stage, evaluators can use creative visuals to improve stakeholder understanding of and participation in data collection, and evaluators can adhere to good design principles to create effective data collection instruments. Author: Johanna Morariu, Myia Welsh, Veena Pankaj, Melissa March Type: Presentation Slides Date: Nov 3, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Data and Information Visualization Throughout the Life Cycle for Participatory Evaluation and Evaluation Capacity Building This is a handout containing a list of great resources to help improve your data visualization skills. The list provides links to websites that will help you design the right color scheme (such as Design Seeds), websites that provides basic information about principles of design, and great examples of how evaluators, statisticians, and computer scientists are using data viz to help us understand data better.
Author: Johanna Morariu and Veena Pankaj Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (392.28 KB) -
Data Placemats: A DataViz Technique to Improve Stakeholder Understanding of Evaluation Results [Slides] At the American Evaluation Assocaition 2012 Annual Conference, Veena Pankaj describes various ways to improve stakeholder engagement, as well as ways to increase stakeholder understanding of evaluation results. Author: Veena Pankaj Type: Presentation Slides Date: Oct 25, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Data Stories A podcast series on data visualization with Enrico Bertini and Moritz Stefaner
Author: Enrico Bertini and Moritz Stefaner Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jan 1, 2015 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Data Visualization Approaches for Program Evaluation (and Beyond) Simone Parrish writes, "When you hear the phrase “program evaluation findings,” are you bored already? Most people—even within the evaluation field—perceive evaluation as dry. The major output of an evaluation is often a weighty report that gets read once (if at all) before it begins its long-term dust-collecting destiny.
Author: Simone Parrish Type: Opinion (blog, editorial) Date: Apr 29, 2014 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Dataviz! Or, How to Win at Communication and Influence People (Resources Handout) Are you intrigued by data and information visualization—dataviz—and how it could improve your communication strategy? Are you interested in the range of dataviz options, but unsure which is right for you? Or are you maybe even drowning in data and looking for someone to throw you a life-saving suggestion for tools to transform your data into a message?
Author: Johanna Morariu Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: May 17, 2013 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Download (510.3 KB) -
Designing a Results Framework for Achieving Results: A How-To Guide A results framework serves as a key tool in the development landscape, enabling practitioners to discuss and establish strategic development objectives and then link interventions to intermediate outcomes and results that directly relate to those objectives. This publication provides how-to guidance for developing results frameworks by discussing the following: Author: Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Sep 1, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Download (834.16 KB) -
Drawings as a Method of Program Evaluation and Communication with School-Age Children This article discusses using drawings as a means for obtaining children's perceptions in the evaluation process. Author: Evans, William and Reilly, Jackie Type: Research & Reports Date: Oct 16, 2008 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Enhancing Program Performance with Logic Models An online course from the University of Wisconsin, Extension on developing and applying logic models. Designed for the beginner, this user-friendly course includes an audio track, worksheets, resources, and examples. Author: University of Wisconsin - Extension Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Jan 1, 2002 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Evaluating Complexity: Propositions for Improving Practice Evaluating Complexity: Propositions for Improving Practice asks civil society organizations to challenge the assumptions behind traditional evaluation models as they take steps toward evaluating complex initiatives and initiatives in complex environments.
Author: FSG Type: Research & Reports Date: Nov 17, 2014 Be the first to review this resource! Download (2.85 MB) -
Evaluating Foundation-Supported Capacity Building: Lessons Learned This study of lessons learned from evaluations of philanthropic capacitybuilding programs used a national database of 473 programs, and a survey and interviews with 87 funders (82 foundations or foundation collaboratives, and five foundation-supported intermediaries) to answer two questions:
(1) How do foundations that support nonprofit capacity building evaluate their grantmaking and direct service activities?
(2) What lessons can be learned from valuation, both to improve these programs and justify the investments made in them?
Author: Thomas E. Backer, Jane Ellen Bleeg & Kathryn Groves Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Download (152.27 KB) -
Evaluating System Change: A Planning Guide This methods brief provides guidance on planning effective evaluations of system change interventions. It begins with a general overview of systems theory and then outlines a three-part process for designing system change evaluations. This three-part process aligns (1) the dynamics of the targeted system or situation, (2) the dynamics of the system change intervention, and (3) the intended purpose(s) and methods of the evaluation.
Author: Margaret B. Hargreaves Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.63 MB) -
Evaluation A Beginners Guide This document aims to present a user-friendly approach to the process of evaluation. It is
particularly targeted at those involved in programs working towards the introduction of human
rights concepts and values in educational curricula and teaching practices, who are initiating an
evaluation for the first time. It contains practical suggestions on how to effectively organize the
evaluation of such programs in order to learn from the work implemented so far.Author: Amnesty International Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: Jun 30, 1999
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Evaluation Concepts Mindmap The Evaluation Concepts Mindmap is a visual showing different considerations in evaluation, such as assessment types, evaluation cycle, and data collection, and the components of those considerations. This is a useful tool for evaluation planning, as well as for gaining a broad perspective of what is important in the field of evaluation—all on one page. Author: Johanna Morariu, Innovation Network Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Mar 28, 2013 Point K Pick
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Evaluation for the Way We Work Michael Quinn Patton describes the developmental evaluation approach. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Author: Michael Quinn Patton Type: Newsletters & Periodicals Date: Mar 21, 2006 Be the first to review this resource! Download (886 KB) -
Evaluation Needs Assessment The Evaluation Needs Assessment was created for use with a grantee cohort of twelve organizations, which received grant support and capacity building services for a period of three years.Directions: Share the tool in advance of an in-person meeting to allow for preparation. Meet to discuss an organization’s existing evaluation practice and goals for improvement. Seek mutual agreement of the evaluation capacity provider and grantee regarding how to apply evaluation technical assistance.Author: Johanna Morariu Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Apr 25, 2011 Be the first to review this resource! Download (215.84 KB) -
Evaluation Principles and Practices: An Internal Working Paper The purpose of this document is to advance the Foundation’s existing work so that our evaluation practices become more consistent across the organization. We hope to create more common understanding of our philosophy, purpose, and expectations regarding evaluation as well as clarify staff roles and available support. With more consistency and shared understanding, we expect less wheel re-creation across program areas, greater learning from each other’s efforts, and faster progress in designing meaningful evaluations and applying the results.
Author: Fay Twersky & Karen Lindblom Type: Research & Reports Date: Jan 22, 2013 Be the first to review this resource! Download (1.42 MB) -
Evaluation Resource Guide This listing and description of resources has been developed to help Department staff evaluate and monitor the performance of Department programs. It also is intended to be useful for county staff and other service providers. Resources in the Guide range from evaluation manuals providing basic information to books with detailed information on specific topics such as logic models, data analysis or sampling. Also included are resources on identifying effective programs/best practices, evaluation standards, and contracting for evaluation.
Author: Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: May 1, 2010 Be the first to review this resource! Download (223.14 KB) -
Evaluation to Support Strategic Learning: Principles and Practices Evaluation that supports strategic learning is an area that the Center for Evaluation Innovation is helping to develop and grow. Working with organizations and groups to integrate evaluative thinking into their strategic decision making and bring timely data to the table for reflection and use has tremendous potential as an approach to evaluation, particularly for complex and dynamic social change strategies.
Author: Julia Coffman & Tanya Beer Type: Research & Reports Date: Jun 1, 2011 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Download (106.64 KB) -
Excel Elbow Grease: How to Fool Excel into Making (Pretty Much) Any Chart You Want In October 2013, Ann K. Emery presented How to fool Excel into making (pretty much) any chart you want at the American Evaluation Association's annual conference in Washington, D.C. She shared four strategies for communicating data more clearly in Excel: 1) Adjust default settings until charts pass the Squint Test; 2) Create two charts in one; 3) Create invisible sections of charts; and 4) Exploit the stock chart types, for example, by making timelines from stacked bar charts or by making dot plots from scatter plots. Author: Ann K. Emery Type: Presentation Slides Date: Oct 17, 2013 Point K Pick Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Failing to learn and learning to fail (intelligently): How great organizations put failure to work to improve and innovate The paper provides insight into what makes learning from failure so difficult to put into practice. The authors address the question of why organizations fail to learn from failure. They identify pernicious barriers embedded in both technical and social systems that make collective learning processes unusual in organizations, and present recommendations for what managers can do to overcome these barriers.
Author: Mark D. Cannon and Amy C. Edmondson Type: Research & Reports Date: Feb 5, 2004 Be the first to review this resource! Download (388.5 KB) -
Focus Group Handbook This handbook provides information on the structure of focus groups. Author: U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program Type: Workbooks & Guides Date: May 16, 1996 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
Free Resources for Program Evaluation and Social Research Methods This page lists FREE resources for program evaluation and social research methods. The focus is on "how-to" do evaluation research and the methods used: surveys, focus groups, sampling, interviews, and other methods. Most of these links are to resources that can be read over the web. A few, like the GAO books, are for books that can be sent away for, for free (if you live in the US), as well as read over the web. Author: Gene Shackman Type: Websites & Online Tools Date: Nov 22, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Web Link -
From Expert to Advocate! Tools for Evidence-Based Advocacy In Your Community You are a powerful force in your community. As a service provider and/or community leader you see clearly where more progress can be made. How can you build the evidence base to change policies and increase resources to save more lives?
To get started, here are a few tools to assess gaps in service delivery and resource allocation, while increasing community and citizen ownership. These tools are just a sample of how to build your evidence base for effective advocacy. The process of developing your evidence base with your community can be as important as the end product.Author: ACTION: Advocacy to Control Tuberculosis Internationally Type: Tipsheets & Paper Tools Date: Jan 1, 2012 Be the first to review this resource! Download (684.46 KB) -
From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation This report highlights emerging approaches to evaluation in the field of philanthropy that increase the effectiveness of both foundations and their grantees. Author: FSG Social Impact Advisors Type: Research & Reports Date: Apr 1, 2007 Be the first to review this resource! Download (3.67 MB)