Resources
Session Materials
Orientation & Context
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A Developmental Evaluation Primer (2008) by Jamie A.A. Gamble. -
Evaluating Social Innovation (2012) by Hallie Preskill & Tanya Beer. -
"Section 1: The Evaluation Context", from Evaluating Collaboratives (1998) by Ellen Taylor-Powell, Boyd Rossing, and Jean Geran. -
Case Study: Dr. John Snow
Complexity, Theories of Change & Logic Models
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Evaluation for Strategic Learning: Assessing Readiness and Results (2014) by Anna Williams -
Evaluation to Support Strategic Learning: Principles and Practices (2011) by Julia Coffman & Tanye Beer, -
"Chapter 1: State of the Art and Practice of Developmental Evaluation", in Developmental Evaluation Exemplars (2016) by Michael Quinn Patton. -
"Chapter 1: The Evaluation Context", in Evaluating Collaboratives (1998) by Ellen Taylor-Powell, Boyd Rossing & Jean Geran. -
Iceberg Analysis -
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Guide to Building a Theory of Change -
Theory of Change: Clarifying Purpose -
Logic Model: Building a Tree Diagram
Asking Questions & Gathering Information
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Building a Strategic Learning and Evaluation System for Your Organization (2013) by Hallie Preskill, PhD & Katelyn Mack, MS -
Chapter 9: An Example of Patch Evaluation, Cabaj et al., in Developmental Evaluation Exemplars (2016) by Michael Quinn Patton. -
Source Book for Facilitators Leading Theory of Change Development Sessions (2012) by Dana H. Taplin, PhD & Muamer Rasic. -
"Section 8: Methods and Techniques", from Evaluating Collaboratives (1998) by Ellen Taylor-Powell, Boyd Rossing, and Jean Geran. -
All In For Youth: A Case Study -
All In For Youth: The Stakeholders -
Descriptions of Evaluation Methods
Data Collection & Sense-Making
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How Shortcuts Cut Us Short: Cognitive Traps in Philanthropic Decision Making (2014) by Julia Coffman & Tanya Beer -
Outsmart Your Own Biases (2015) by Jack B. Soll, Katherine L. Milkman, and John W. Payne -
Fooled by Experience (2015) by Emre Soyer and Robin M. Hogarth -
Chapter 5: Fostering Learning through Developmental Evaluation…, Gamble et el., in Developmental Evaluation Exemplars (2016) by Michael Quinn Patton.
Asking the Difficult Questions
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Facilitating Intentional Group Learning: A Practical Guide to 21 Learning Activities (2017) -
Shine a Light: The Role of Consultants in Fostering a Learning Culture at Foundations (2015) by J. Raynor, A. Blanchard, & M. Spence. -
"Chapter 6: Science and how we care for needy young children…", Asher et el., in Developmental Evaluation Exemplars (2016) by Michael Quinn Patton.
Additional Resources
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Collective Impact 3.0: An Evolving Framework for Community Change (2016) -
Navigating the Adaptive Cycle: An Approach to Managing the Resilience of Social Systems (2015) -
Theory of Change template
Recordings
In Session 5 of the Eval Lab, we usually invite Tamarack Institute's Mark Cabaj to come answer participants’ burning questions related to evaluation and evaluative learning. Because of the current COVID-19 crisis, we decided instead to shift to recording an online facilitated conversation with Mark around some of these questions.
We recorded this conversation and have uploaded a series of videos for viewing that speak to burning evaluation and evaluative thinking questions. The conversation was facilitated in a way that grouped like questions together according to the Learning Journey Canvas. The Learning Journey Canvas, the overarching learning framework for this course, is a way to orient your process of evaluation.
A Conversation with Mark Cabaj
Knowing Your Context
Many collaborations involve aligning the activities of organizations who come with unique histories, different organizational cultures and structures, and varying capabilities capacities. What is the role of evaluation and evaluators in supporting collaborations?
Burning Questions
In the context of networks and collaboratives, how do we figure out what we want to know?
Uses & Users
Recognizing that there are often differentials in power between members of a collaborative, and that our worldviews and social positions shape how we see the world and the questions we ask ...
Methods & Tools
Recognizing that there is a plethora of theories, tools, and approaches…
Larger Philosophical Questions
What is the role of evaluation/evaluators in times of crisis?