Books
METHODS - on line books, manuals, guides to research methods and evaluation.
Most of these sites describe social research methods, or evaluation methods, including survey methods, qualitative methods. These are listed in 2 main sections: General Methods, and Evaluation. Many of the evaluation guides are also general methods guides. Each section is further subdivided into academic sites, government sites, or private organization or individual sites. This organization is used because there are a lot of sites, and this was one way to organize them. Within sections, site are listed in no particular order.
I General Research Methods sites
Government
Statistics: Power from data. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/edu/power-pouvoir/toc-tdm/5214718-eng.htm has sections describing data collection methods, questionnaires.
Academic sites
Anol Bhattacherjee Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3/ from 2012
Blackstone, Amy. Principles of Sociological Inquiry – Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=139 Dr. Blackstone is from University of Maine
Grand Canyon University, Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching https://cirt.gcu.edu/research click on "Prepare" for a couple of sets of tutorials or modules on a wide variety of research methods, including surveys, focus groups, and more.
Horne, Christopher. A quick, free, somewhat easy-to-read introduction to empirical social science research methods. https://scholar.utc.edu/oer/1/ April 2018
Rajiv Jhangiani, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, I-Chant Chiang, Quest University Canada, Research Methods in Psychology – 2nd Canadian Edition, Pub Date: 2015
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=431
Susan Losh http://myweb.fsu.edu/slosh/index.html teaches research methods http://myweb.fsu.edu/slosh/MethodsOverview.html introduction to different methods, eg, surveys, focus groups, some less structured methods.
PPA 696 Research Methods http://www.csulb.edu/~msaintg/ppa696/696menu.htm#PPA 696 very nice overview on different research methods. Last updated in 2001.
Paul C. Price, Rajiv S. Jhangiani, and I-Chant A. Chiang Research Methods in Psychology https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/ 2015
On line research methods http://www.restore.ac.uk/orm/site/home.htm From the National Center for Research Methods. Aimed at understanding how to do research on line.
Institute for Health and Work, Guide to Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies for Preventing Work Injuries http://www.iwh.on.ca/evaluating-safety-programs chapters on planning, designing, analysing, methods for evaluation. From 2001.
This OpenStax book, Introduction to Sociology http://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/introduction-to-sociology has a chapter outlining research methods. Heather Griffiths, Nathan Keirns, others, 2015
Private organizations or people
Center for Local Economic Strategies http://www.cles.org.uk/publications/research-methods-handbook/ Research Methods Handbook, Stuart MacDonald & Nicola Headlam. 2009. Good overview of many different kinds of research methods.
A Complete Guide to Quantitative Research Method, by Manu Bhatia, June 11, 2018. https://blog.socialcops.com/academy/resources/quantitative-research-methods/ A nice guide, with lots of sub topics built in.
s-cool sociology methods http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/sociology/methods brief descriptions of different methods such as participant observation, experiments, sampling, comparative methods, and secondary data analysis. This is at s-cool, http://www.s-cool.co.uk/ then click on A level methods, then sociology, then methods. I didn't see a date or author.
Trochim, William M. The Research Methods Knowledge Base, http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/index.htm . General research methods text, with chapters on topics such as survey construction, sampling, and a chapter on evaluation. If its a method, its probably here. Last updated in 2006
II: Evaluation: how to, approaches, manuals, guides
These also often include research methods as well.
Managing evaluations
Good Practice Guidelines https://www.evaluation.org.uk/professional-development/good-practice-guideline/ "The Guidelines for Good Practice in Evaluation represent a set of principles for action in evaluation"
The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation, Second Edition https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/the-program-managers-guide-to-evaluation-second-edition from 2010. From a managers perspective
Making evaluations matter: A practical guide for evaluators. http://library.wur.nl/WebQuery/wurpubs/405451 by Cecile Kusters with Simone van Vugt, Seerp Wigboldus, Bob Williams and Jim Woodhill. 2011. Published from Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen University & Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Better Evaluation. Manage Evaluation. http://www.betterevaluation.org/en/plan/manage_evaluation
A guide for project M&E https://www.ifad.org/evaluation/reports/guide from IFAD. "This Guide has been written to help project managers and M&E staff improve the quality of M&E" 2002.
Steps in managing an evaluation project http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/programs_and_services/policy_makers_toolkit/evaluation_toolkit The Toolkit takes you through seven steps for planning and implementing a program evaluation project.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook http://www.wkkf.org/ The Kellogg Foundation is an organization that gives grants, and this handbook is "written primarily for project directors who have direct responsibility for the ongoing evaluation of W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded projects" so a lot of it is an overview of evaluation, the processes involved, and of important considerations in making decisions about the evaluation process. Not exactly a "how-to", but a comprehensive guide to decisions involved in the evaluation process. At present, the url is here http://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resource/2010/w-k-kellogg-foundation-evaluation-handbook but they keep changing the url. As of 1/27/18, they say this was last revised in 2017, but you also have to give your name and email address to get the book.
Academic sites
Power of Proof: An Evaluation Primer http://tacenters.emory.edu/resources/products_tools/tobacco/power-of-proof/ from Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health. No date given.
The Center for Program Evaluation and Research http://programeval.ucdavis.edu/index.html has some nice pamphlets, presentations and videos. No date given.
Monitoring and Evaluation: How and How Well Objectives are Being Reached http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/cmp/modules/mon-int.htm Phil Bartle, PhD. Written for community empowerment. 2011.
School of Geography and the Environment has this page http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/technologies/projects/monitoringandevaluation/ Monitoring and Evaluation for Sustainable Communities: Phase 1. The section "Monitoring and Evaluation Resources" has this "Guide to Monitoring and Evaluation", which is "A 60 page guide to conducting your own Monitoring and Evaluation. Topics include: Deciding what to M&E; Planning your M&E; Information collection methods; Overview of resources; and useful interviews for questions and surveys."
Cooperative extension resources
Rutgers Cooperative Extension publications http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/subcategory.asp?cat=11&sub=70 2002, 2003. lists the following publications, A Step-By-Step Guide to Developing Questionnaires and Survey Research Procedures for Program Evaluation & Research, Choosing a Data Collection Method for Survey Research, Maximizing Response Rate and Controlling Nonresponse Error in Survey Research, and Choosing Appropriate Research Methods to Evaluate Educational Programs. These are all short (2-3 page) pdf files.
If above link doesn't work, try http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/default.asp then click on Educational Design and Program Evaluation then Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Univ of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension publications has this set of eval docs https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Search.aspx?m=6&c=234 and these sections: Collecting and analyzing data http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Collecting-Analyzing-Data-C237.aspx and Designing evaluation http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Designing-Evaluations-C238.aspx Some of these are from 1996.
Government sites
From the UK
Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-governent "This new edition of the Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government, incorporates revised guidance, to encourage a more thorough, long-term and analytically robust approach to appraisal and evaluation. It is relevant to all appraisals and evaluations." Last updated 2016
From Canada
Centre of Excellence for Evaluation (CEE) http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/cee/index-eng.asp not exactly a how to, but according to their website "The CEE provides functional leadership, including advice and guidance in the conduct, use and advancement of evaluation practices across the federal government." They have policies and standards on evaluation, and these
Theory-Based Approaches to Evaluation: Concepts and Practices
and
Supporting Effective Evaluations: A Guide to Developing Performance Measurement Strategies
From the USA
CDC Evaluation Working Group http://www.cdc.gov/eval/index.htm This site is about the CDC Evaluation Working Group and its efforts to promote program evaluation at the CDC. See especially their "highlights of a framework for program evaluation", and their links page which is a comprehensive list of links to evaluation guidelines produced by various CDC programs.
CDC also has these
* Wisewoman Program Evaluation Toolkit https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/evaluation_toolkit.htm Key concepts, brief guides
* Introduction to program evaluation for public health programs: A self-study guide. http://www.cdc.gov/eval/guide/ some more basics. 2011.
* Introduction to Program Evaluation for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/tobacco_control_programs/surveillance_evaluation/evaluation_manual/index.htm another general methods guide. 2001.
* Program evaluation manuals http://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/Evaluation/default.htm several listed here. One is TB Program Evaluation Handbook: Introduction to Program Evaluation, 2006
National Network of Libraries of Medicine https://nnlm.gov/neo/professional-development/guides has this "Collecting and Analyzing Evaluation Data" from 2013.
Identifying and Implementing Educational Practices Supported By Rigorous Evidence: A User Friendly Guide. From the US Department of Education Institute of Educational Sciences http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/evidence_based/evidence_based.asp This guide offers tools to educational practitioners that help distinguish practices supported by rigorous evidence from those that are not." This is mainly about randomized control trials. 2003
Also see some technical publications http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/tech_methods/
"Technical Methods Report: Statistical Power for Regression Discontinuity Designs in Education Evaluations" 2008
"What to Do When Data Are Missing in Group Randomized Controlled Trials" 2009
Also see this one
"Random Assignment in Program Evaluation and Intervention Research: Questions and Answers" here http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pdf/20035001.pdf 2003
Pink Book-Making Health Communication Programs Work http://www.cancer.gov/publications/health-communication has a chapter on evaluation (stage 4) and a chapter on research methods. No date given.
From Australia
Planning and Evaluation Wizard http://www.flinders.edu.au/medicine/sites/pew/pew_home.cfm
Evaluation Guide http://www.treasury.wa.gov.au/uploadedFiles/Treasury/Program_Evaluation/evaluation_guide.pdf The government of Western Australia, 2015
Private organizations or people
Impact Evaluation
Impact Evaluation of Development Interventions: A Practical Guide. White, Howard. Raitzer, David A. December 2017. Asian Development Bank.
https://www.adb.org/publications/impact-evaluation-development-interventions-practical-guide
InterAction has a couple of manuals about impact evaluation http://www.interaction.org/resources/training by Patricia Rogers, Burt Perrin, Michael Bamberger. For example, Introduction to Impact Evaluation, by Patricia Rogers, is from 2012.
Unicef has briefs and videos https://www.unicef-irc.org/KM/IE/impact_1.php Overview of Impact Evaluation, by Patricia Rogers, 2014
Impact Evaluation http://go.worldbank.org/2DHMCRFFT2 explains a lot and has key readings, links to their methods page
And World Bank has this http://go.worldbank.org/IT69C5OGL0 Impact Evaluation Toolkit
Better Evaluation Impact Evaluation Series http://betterevaluation.org/en/resources/guide/unicef_impact_evaluation_series
Other
Annie E. Casey Foundation has some evaluation guides like this one: The Need for Self-Evaluation: Using Data to Guide Policy and Practice (summary) http://www.aecf.org/resources/the-need-for-self-evaluation/ no date given.
Asian Development Bank. http://www.adb.org/site/evaluation/methods-guidelines includes this, from 2015, Guidelines for the Preparation of Country Assistance Program Evaluations and Country Partnership Strategy Final Review Validations, and this from 2016, Guidelines for the Evaluation of Public Sector Operations
Basic Guide to Program Evaluation http://managementhelp.org/evaluation/program-evaluation-guide.htm Written by Carter McNamara, PhD, this is an on line guide to program evaluation, which describes many of the methods used, for example, surveys, interviewing, focus groups, and other methods. This site also has many useful links. No date given.
Better Evaluation http://betterevaluation.org/ "An international collaboration to improve evaluation practice and theory by sharing information about options (methods or tools) and approaches." Has stuff about methods and a lot more.
One recent blog entry is "7 Strategies to improve evaluation use and influence". Parts 1 and 2 are from January and February 2018. Part 1 is here http://www.betterevaluation.org/en/blog/strategies_for_improving_evaluation_use_and_influence
Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for Peacebuilding has an online field guide http://dmeforpeace.org/online-field-guide which is not exactly a guide by itself, but has a bunch of documents by other people about various aspects of evaluation. For example, one presentation is Process Evaluation. The University of Texas at Austin. http://www.dmeforpeace.org/resource/process-evaluation/
EvalPartners has this page http://www.evalpartners.org/library/selected-books a virtual library of books about evaluation.
IFAD Evaluation https://www.ifad.org/evaluation/overview Includes an evaluation manual on methods and issues. 2015. https://www.ifad.org/evaluation/policy_and_methodology/overview
Also see https://www.ifad.org/evaluation/reports/guide/tags/1880189 A guide for project M&E, 2002.
Julian King has a book about assessing value for money (VfM) in international development programmes. https://www.julianking.co.nz/downloads/ According to the site, this combines "evaluation practice with concepts from economic evaluation to respond to donor requirements for accountability and good resource allocation"
McCreary Center. Asking Questions That Matter http://www.mcs.bc.ca/evaluation_resources This toolkit aims to increase understanding evaluation, develop the skills to prepare an evaluation plan, and provide tools to carry out an evaluation of a local community project. 2012.
OECD DAC Guidelines and Reference Series http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/development/dac-guidelines-and-reference-series_19900988 has a few publications:
Evaluating Peacebuilding Activities in Settings of Conflict and Fragility, 2012
Quality Standards for Development Evaluation, 2010
Tobacco Control Evaluation Center http://tobaccoeval.ucdavis.edu/index.html has a lot of pamphlets on specific topics, methods of doing evaluation. Some brief, some quite extensive.
Tools 4 Development http://www.tools4dev.org/category/resources/how-to-guides/ and here http://www.tools4dev.org/category/skills/monitoring-evaluation/ has many guides about how to do research and evaluation. A few of the docs are:
How to get informed consent, 2016
How to create a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system – step-by-step guide, 2014
University of Kansas Community Toolbox http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents includes a couple of chapters on evaluation, including introduction and methods. Started in 1996, but in continuous development, up through 2016, and still going.
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault http://www.wcasa.org/pages/Evaluation.php "Here you will find a variety of resources, guides, webinars, worksheets, and learning activities that will assist in building evaluation systems." Not exactly a "book". Kind of a collection of pamphlets obtained from other sites.
UNDP methodological publications, http://www.undp.org/evaluation/
Handbook on Planning Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guidance.shtml#handbook from 2009
A companion guide to the handbook on planning monitoring and evaluating for development results for programme units and evaluators. http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guidance.shtml#outcome from 2011
Barbara O. Wynn, Arindam Dutta, Martha I. Nelson, Challenges in Program Evaluation of Health Interventions in Developing Countries. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG402/ The authors provide an overview of various approaches, methodologies, and issues related to program evaluation for health projects in developing countries. 2005
World Bank has these
Evaluation Wiki https://dimewiki.worldbank.org/wiki/Main_Page lots of general info on doing evaluation, methods of data collection, data cleaning, research design, analysis, publication, etc.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Some Tools, Methods and Approaches here From 2004.
Morra Imas, Linda G.; Rist, Ray C.. 2009. The Road to Results : Designing and Conducting Effective Development Evaluations. World Bank. © World Bank.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2699
Zall Kusek, Jody; Rist, Ray C.. 2004. Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System : A Handbook for Development Practitioners. Washington, DC: World Bank. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/14926
Last checked and edited 1/28/2018