PiP Network Meeting Notes 13 November 2013 At this meeting, presenter Wei Leng Kwok provided a taste of participatory approaches to evaluation, based on the work she has done with VicHealth for its Preventing Violence Against Women projects. The meeting concluded with a brainstorm around next steps to support PiP members in their evaluation work. Below is a summary of the discussion. Diverse approaches to evaluation: Evaluation is not prescriptive. There are 79 types of evaluation approaches and each one is valid. Validity of each approach is determined by what you want the evaluation to achieve and how you want to use the information. NB: Often funders will request a different focus to what workers on the ground would find helpful. The purpose for your evaluation will determine your approach (i.e. if your evaluation is intended purely to satisfy the needs of a funder, you would select a different approach to an evaluation focused on continuous improvement). Need to be able to say what the project wants to learn from the evaluation to guide the evaluation approach. Internal evaluations can deliver better results than external, despite traditional attitudes that consider external evaluations as more rigorous. Brief overview of evaluation steps: Step 1: Develop your logic model States the project logic (i.e. vision, goal, objectives, inputs and intended outcomes). Often a one page diagrammatic model. Supports project workers to conceptualise what the project intends to achieve and therefore what needs to be evaluated. Can be useful to promote the project and support grant applications. Step 2: Determine questions Step 3: Identify the most important elements to evaluate Step 4: Identify indicators for success SMART indicators. Ask what would determine success for this project, but make sure it is measurable and achievable.
PiP Network Meeting Notes 13 November 2013 At this meeting, presenter Wei Leng Kwok provided a taste of participatory approaches to evaluation, based on the work she has done with VicHealth for its Preventing Violence Against Women projects. The meeting concluded with a brainstorm around next steps to support PiP members in their evaluation work. Below is a summary of the discussion. Diverse approaches to evaluation: Evaluation is not prescriptive. There are 79 types of evaluation approaches and each one is valid. Validity of each approach is determined by what you want the evaluation to achieve and how you want to use the information. NB: Often funders will request a different focus to what workers on the ground would find helpful. The purpose for your evaluation will determine your approach (i.e. if your evaluation is intended purely to satisfy the needs of a funder, you would select a different approach to an evaluation focused on continuous improvement). Need to be able to say what the project wants to learn from the evaluation to guide the evaluation approach. Internal evaluations can deliver better results than external, despite traditional attitudes that consider external evaluations as more rigorous. Brief overview of evaluation steps: Step 1: Develop your logic model States the project logic (i.e. vision, goal, objectives, inputs and intended outcomes). Often a one page diagrammatic model. Supports project workers to conceptualise what the project intends to achieve and therefore what needs to be evaluated. Can be useful to promote the project and support grant applications. Step 2: Determine questions Step 3: Identify the most important elements to evaluate Step 4: Identify indicators for success SMART indicators. Ask what would determine success for this project, but make sure it is measurable and achievable.