Principles-Focused Evaluation: February 22
Evaluation has often focused on evaluating programs, which can be described by a set of rules and steps. However, when contexts change (i.e. COVID) and/or participants goals are varied and adapting over time, following rigid rules or program models can lead to being ineffective. Principles-Focused Evaluation focuses on effectiveness principles that provide context-sensitive guidance on what to think and do in order to be effective at something. It's like cooking to taste depending on who your guests are instead of always using the same recipe. This workshop will review the utility of principles-focused evaluation and design when achieving social change is complex. It will give participants the opportunity to create a rough plan to evaluate an effectiveness principle. Principle-focused evaluation applies when social actors’ work is guided by principles rather than rules or program models. The content will be grounded in examples from the facilitator’s work related to youth employment and shared leadership. We will use small groups throughout the workshop. We will review the relevancy of effectiveness principles for navigating complex situations, and participants will discuss whether they may be dealing with complex situations. We will review what defines effectiveness principles, and participants will identify principles that are relevant for what they are/may evaluate. We will review Quinn-Patton’s GUIDE framework for assessing quality effectiveness principles and review principles-focused evaluation questions. Participants will then design a plan to answer the three main principles-focused evaluation questions. Participants will learn: - The implications of using rules vs. principles for guiding initiative design and evaluation.
- About the GUIDE framework for assessing quality effectiveness principles.
- The basics of principle-focus evaluation.
The workshop will be most appropriate for intermediate to advanced evaluators looking for ways to evaluate initiatives that are not guided by rigid rules. When: February 22, 2021, 9 AM - 12 PM Where: Zoom Webinar Register here!
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