How to Evaluate - York Consulting

Oldham and Rochdale HMREvaluation Techniques “How to Evaluate”1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW“How to Evaluate”1.1 York Consulting LLP (YCL) was asked to carry out an evaluation of theCohesion Counts projects and produce an Evaluation Techniques: “How ToEvaluate” Guide in May 2009. The evaluation of the Cohesion Countsprojects was carried out from May 2009 to January 2010.1.2 This “How to Evaluate” Guide provides an overview of the projects involvedin the Cohesion Counts Evaluation and provides guidelines, developed fromYCL’s experience as evaluators, for projects or programmes to undertaketheir own evaluation (Section 2). The guidelines aim to provide projects andprogrammes with the opportunity to reflect on how they could structuretheir own evaluation. The information provides helpful suggestions andhints on what evaluation should cover as well as things to watch out for.1.3 The guide also includes reflections on the successes and challengesexperienced through using the specific types of evaluation activity chosenfor the Cohesion Counts evaluation (Section 3). Some of the evaluationmethodologies used are outlined in Section 2, the examples and reflectionsgiven in Section 3 build on the methodology suggestions and offer somereal-life examples of how they were implemented and what lessons theevaluation team learnt.1.4 The findings from the evaluation activity were based on a quantitative andqualitative methodology which consisted of questionnaires, surveys, faceto-faceand telephone consultations, mood boards, scenario testing, onlineblogs and forums, secondary and primary data. Those involved in theevaluation included funders, stakeholders, project deliverers, communitymembers and project participants.1