Evaluation research can assess the value and effectiveness of interventions and innovations involving people. While this has often been on a grand scale, this book focuses on small-scale projects carried out by an individual or small group, typically lasting for weeks or at most a few months, at a local rather than national level. Using limited jargon and featuring integrated, real-world examples, this second edition offers a clear, accessible background to evaluation and prepares you to undertake your own small-scale evaluation research project. Key features include discussion of: • Different approaches to evaluation and how to choose between them • The advantages and disadvantages of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) • Realist evaluation and its increasing importance • The centrality of ethical and political issues • The influence and opportunity of the Internet Tightly focused on the realities of carrying out small-scale evaluation, Small-Scale Evaluation is a highly practical guide covering the needs of both social scientists and others without this background. Colin Robson is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Human & Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

Communicating the Findings

Evaluation reports

There are no hard and fast rules for the way in which the findings of small-scale evaluations are communicated. The ideas of audience and purpose are important: who are you seeking to communicate with, and why? There can be multiple audiences and multiple purposes. It is highly likely that one audience will be the sponsor of the evaluation, but key stakeholders, including program personnel and possibly clients, may be others. One purpose will probably be to fulfil the terms of any contract or formal agreement (which may have specified the kind of reporting required). Similarly, undertakings about feedback made to anyone involved should be honoured. Another purpose might be to facilitate implementation of the findings.

Emphasizing the multifaceted nature of ...

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