Download a glossary of terms used in this course.
To what extent have you considered evaluation in the context of your project? How does evaluation contribute to your project? The answer is simple: while projects may sound compelling and seem worthwhile, it is difficult to know if the project goals and objectives are realised without conducting an evaluation.
Evaluation is a balanced tool to reveal whether and how projects achieve their goals. Evaluation data collected throughout the project lifecycle provides a window for
In this module, you will learn about the strategies and frameworks for monitoring and evaluation during your project. After building an evaluation and monitoring plan for your own project, in the module Evidencing impact you will continue to learn about how you can evidence impact with practical skills and tools after project completion and how best to communicate evaluation results to stakeholders.
Let's consider a list of reasons why evaluation could matter to your projects.
Continue on for a list of reasons why evaluation could matter to your projects.
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Helps ensure better project transparency and accountability to your stakeholders and funders.
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Helps ensure the time and resources you and your stakeholders have invested are used effectively.
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Helps detect problems early so you can mitigate risks as the project progresses.
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Allows you to hear diverse voices, using tools such as surveys and interviews.
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Promotes development of multiple skills – such as quantitative and qualitative data analysis, managing stakeholder relations and change management.
Think about what you have learnt in the module Planning your impact. How would you embed evaluation in the lifecycle of your project to account for non-linear impact?
How impact is generated from research is often non-linear – it could occur at any stage of the research lifecycle, sometimes unexpectedly. Asking a set of overarching evaluation questions throughout your project will help you remain focused across the project lifecycle.
- At the planning stage, evaluation has a role to play in refining project goals and objectives based on resources, relevance and risks
- During the implementation phase, evaluation seeks to understand where progress is most prominent, and how to optimise ongoing success. It also offers a way to monitor progress towards key performance tracking
indicators that may be required by funders - At the end of the project, evaluation assesses to what extent the original goals and objectives were met, and identifies best practices and lessons learnt. It also captures the unintended effects of the project.
Make a note of your answers to the following overarching evaluation questions in the context of your own project – it could be something you're working on currently or a project you want to work towards. You can use the 'View summary' button to save your answers.
Make a note of your answers to the following overarching evaluation questions in the context of your own project – it could be something you're working on currently or a project you want to work towards.
Think about your answers to the following three overarching evaluation questions in the context of your own project – it could be something you're working on currently or a project you want to work towards.
What is your project goal, and why does it matter?
What are the key milestones for your project, and why have you decided to track these events or tasks?
Why does evaluation data on the progress of the project matter, and what's next?
These questions aim to help you to draw out the most important considerations for your project. The first question helps you to refine project objectives. Have a think about who your stakeholders and beneficiaries are. The second question helps you to reflect on how you envision the progress of your project. Have a think about how to maximise the winning streams and whether you need to cut losses in other parts. The third question helps you to reassess against project goals, and to plan for next steps.
Evaluation can bring many benefits to your projects. As a researcher, you may already be conducting evaluation or utilising evaluation techniques unconsciously as part of your daily research activities. Monitoring, evaluation and evidencing impact can together capture and communicate the broader benefits of your research!
Creative & Credible is an evaluation knowledge exchange project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, to improve evaluation practices and encourage creative evaluation approaches.