You are viewing the Evaluation Resource Center. Point K also offers Innovation Network Publications and Other Nonprofit Capacity-Building Resources. We also have a separate resource center for advocacy evaluation resources.
Evaluation Resource Center
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General Evaluation Guides
Logic Models and Evaluation Planning
Data Collection
Data Analysis and Reporting
Evaluation Capacity Building
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General Evaluation Guides
• Basic Guide to Program Evaluation: the evaluation site of the Free Management Library prepared by Carter McNamara and hosted by the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• CDC’s Evaluation Resources: a collection of online resources for evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Evaluation Working Group.
• Community Based Project Evaluation Guide (PDF): a guide from The University of Arizona's Institute for Children, Youth & Families originally created in 1997 and updated in 2000.
• Community Development Evaluation Storymap: This impressive interactive resource from NeighborWorks® America offers concise explanations and real-world applications of capacity assessment, performance measurement, and outcome evaluation approaches, along with information about recommended tools and resources for each process.
• Evaluation Glossary: Innovation Network's collection of definitions of planning and evaluation terms. Viewable as HTML (you must be logged into Point K) or PDF.
• University of Wisconsin, Extension's Evaluation Resources: a site that provides a comprehensive set of resources on planning and implementing an evaluation. Be sure to review their practical publications as well.
• Evaluation Strategies for Human Services Program: a guide from The Urban Institute that presents the basic principles of program evaluation design for policymakers and providers.
• The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation: a guide from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that explains program evaluation -- what it is, how to understand it, and how to do it.
• Taking Stock: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Own Programs: a manual from Horizon Research providing an overview of program evaluation.
• User-Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation: a handbook written for non-experts developed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide evaluators working with the NSF with a basic understanding of selected evaluation approaches.
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook (PDF): a handbook written for beginners and novices to evaluation that provides a framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool.
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Logic Models and Evaluation Planning
• Developing logic models and evaluation plans: 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.
• Evaluation Planning Workbook: Innovation Network's own workbook - an introduction to the processes and concepts of the logic model. Available in Word or PDF.
• Introducing Program Logic Models (PDF): a six-page summary of logic model concepts prepared by the Kellogg Foundation.
• Logic Model Overview: a logic model overview with links to workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, etc. from the University of Wisconsin, Extension.
• Logic Model Workbook: Innovation Network's own workbook - an introduction to the processes and concepts of the logic model. Available in Word or PDF.
• Outcomes Based Evaluations Using the Logic Model (PDF): a training program guide about logic models and evaluation, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Development Guide (PDF): a clear and concise discussion of the use of logic models and their importance for program and evaluation planning.
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Data Collection
• Evaluation Research: The evaluation research section of Cornell University’s "Research Methods Knowledge Base", a comprehensive web-based textbook that addresses many topics in social research methods.
Sample Size, Margins of Error, and Confidence Intervals
• Sample Size Calculator: A handy online calculator from American Research Group, Inc. Quickly determines how many responses you will need to a survey in order to have a high degree confidence in the results.
• Margin of Error Calculator: Another online calculator from American Research Group, Inc., this one helps you figure out your margin of error is based on the number of responses received from a given audience.
• Definitions and discussion: Creative Research Systems offers a good discussion of sample size and other factors that affect the confidence interval of your data collection process.
• Statistical Confidence in a Survey: How Many Is Enough? Fred Van Bennekom, Dr.B.A., Principal of Great Brook Consulting, discusses the myths, misinformation, and must-haves of sampling in this informative article.
Surveys
• A Brief Guide to Questionnaire Development (PDF): a booklet from Robert B. Frary at Virginia Tech.
• Essentials of Survey Research and Analysis: a workbook for community researchers by Ronald Jay Polland, Ph.D.
• Survey Research: the survey section of Cornell’s "Research Methods Knowledge Base".
• Survey Response Options: a compilation from the Data Guru website.
• Survey Questions: the survey questions section of "Research Methods Knowledge Base".
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Interviews
• The Use of Qualitative Interviews in Evaluation: a guide from Meg Sewell at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
Focus Groups
• Basics of Conducting Focus Groups: a section on focus groups from Carter McNamara, PhD of the Free Management Library, sponsored by Management Assistance Program.
• Focus Groups: An Overview: a guide developed by the New York State Teacher Resource & Computer Training Centers.
• Focus Group Questions: a short, clear FAQ from the U.S. Department of Education, Planning and Evaluation Service.
• Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Tips: a guide on focus groups from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
• User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed-Method Evaluations: a helpful guide from the National Science Foundation.
• Using Focus Groups for Evaluation: a guide from Mary Marczak & Meg Sewell at the University of Arizona.
• Using Focus Groups to Create Excellence: a handbook on understanding and conducting focus groups from the Army Family Advocacy Project, a part of the Child Abuse Prevention Network.
• When to Use Surveys and Focus Groups: a simple guide from the Planning and Evaluation Service of the U.S. Department of Education.
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Data Analysis and Reporting
• Data Analysis: This Power Point presentation (slides only) gives an overview of how to code and analyze data, including information on how to do this by hand.
• Map-Making Utility (U.S.): In interpreting and illustrating regional events, you can often make your data speak more clearly by using color-contrasted maps. This easy-to-use, free online tool from Texas A&M University lets you color-code individual states and produces an attractive U.S. map in a versatile .gif format. (If any of you are aware of similar map-making utilities for other geographic regions, let us know!)
Statistics
• Analyzing Data Using Excel: a tutorial from Microsoft Education.
• Statistics Every Writer Should Know: simple explanations of basic statistics written for reporters and writers, but useful for everyone.
• Statistics Tutorial (Alan Dix): Offered at a number of international workshops, this PowerPoint tutorial aims to help you develop a 'gut feeling' for key statistical concepts, concentrating on meaning rather than formulae.
• Wading Through the Data Swamp: a tutorial on statistics created for prevention programs, but useful for everyone using statistics.
Reporting
• Final Evaluation Report: a sample outline on reporting, part of a tutorial created for prevention programs, but useful for anyone writing an evaluation report.
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Evaluation Capacity-Building
• Building Evaluative Capacity of Nonprofits: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) provides an extensive list of resources related to nonprofit capacity.
• Capacity Building and Organizational Effectiveness: The Alliance for Nonprofit Management defines what capacity building is and provides an excerpt from Deborah Lindell's book, Evaluation of Capacity Building: Lessons from the Field.
• The Evaluation Capacity Development Group (ECDG) was formed to develop the capacity of small to medium nonprofit organizations to conduct evaluation by themselves.
• The World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group offers an exhasutive resource of publications and information focused on monitoring and evaluation.
Suggest a Resource: These pages aren't carved in stone. If you can't find something, or would like to suggest a resource, please let us know.
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