Blogs

Some of my clients are really interested in measuring their impact. RCTs and other quasi-experiments are first on their list of suggested designs. But our repertoire of IE designs and methods have grown. This DfID working paper says: Most development interventions are ‘contributory causes’. They ‘work’ as part of a causal package in combination with other … Continue reading “There are alternatives to Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Impact Evaluation Methods.”

This handy poster made by Johanna Boehnert explains 16 terms that often pop up in thining about complex systems. It’s a bit like a gateway drug to reading more on Complex Systems. If found it in a tweet by @Heinomatti which refers to the website of CECAN .But Better Evaluation also has a really nice … Continue reading “Picture this- Complexity”

I’m studying again and for that, I’m reading. A lot. I’m reading about systems thinking and factors that support sustained outcomes of development interventions. Often I stumble on things that make me go: “Ooh – I should remember this next time I do ABC” So this blog is being revived a bit to help keep … Continue reading “Systems Science and Complexity Science – related but not the same”

Although we reportedly now live in a post-evidence era, I still choose to cling to the minority view that programmes should be informed by research about what works. But where do you find the evidence? About two years ago I attended a training course presented by Phil Davies from 3ie. He had many interesting insights … Continue reading “Can you tell me “What works in…””

Three times in one week I’ve now found myself explaining the use of evaluation rubrics to potential evaluation users. I usually start with an example like this, that people can relate to: When your high school creative writing paper was graded, your teacher most likely gave you an evaluative rubric which specified that you do … Continue reading “Evaluative Rubrics – Helping you to make sense of your evaluation data”

Last year I attended a course on “Using Evidence for Policy and Practice” presented by Philip Davies from the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation [3ie]. I found his guidelines for what should go into the 1:3:25 summaries most helpful. Here they are: The full course material is available on the website of the African Evidence … Continue reading “Writing Summaries for Evaluation Reports”

The SAMEA conference is happening from 12 to 16 October and I’m looking forward to it. Since January, I’ve had to temporarily downscale my professional involvement in the M&E and Educational networks and I had to neglect this little blog a bit because of a second long term development project I took on in January 2015. The project … Continue reading “What I’m up to at the 2015 SAMEA Conference”

You know how the forces at work in the universe sometimes conspire and confronts you with a persistent nudge… over an over again? Well this week’s nudge was “You know nothing about economic evaluation… do something about it – Other than ignoring it”. Words like “cost-benefit analysis, cost-efficiency analysis, cost-utility analysis”… actually anything with the … Continue reading “True Confessions of an Economic Evaluation Phobic”

An old classmate, that took the market research route after completing her Research Psych Master’s Degree, asked me for a couple of references to check out if she wanted to develop her evaluation knowledge and skills. What came to mind is the following professional development resources. I’m sure there’s many more easily accessible ones, but … Continue reading “What if, mid career as a researcher, you become interested in Evaluation?”