While evaluation plays a key role in making a project successful, as well as measuring that success, it can also be complex and challenging. This section provides insights from the students who developed the example intervention projects presented in these modules. These tips may help navigate difficulties that arise when it comes to evaluation.Â
Be intentional and realistic with your sampling strategy, as: gaining enough meaningful, engaged participation can be difficult without incentives
When you think about what information you want to evaluate, understand that: access to the data you want is not always guaranteed
Because all of the aspects of your project are linked: changes in other aspects of your project will effect what and how you evaluate
You will need information throughout the development and implementation process, so: be strategic in using evaluation at different stages of your project
Evaluation can present many challenges to all areas of your project, so make sure to: consider obstacles to collecting data such as time, resources, space, participants, etc. (and how you might avoid or overcome them) and allow additional time for your process
Designing effective evaluation strategies takes time, so: go through several iterations of your evaluation tools, utilizing feedback from stakeholders or pilot studies to make revisions and determine how to measure success
Evaluation can require specialized knowledge and skills, so: ensure that you have the skills or resources to effectively analyze data
You will conduct evaluation with many different people, so it is important to: be clear in your language and simple in your process as you design your evaluation instruments and strategy
Once you've collected and analyzed data, consider how to: reflect not just on the results, but what they mean for your approach to behavior change and improving your project