What is evaluation?
Evaluation is the process of monitoring and demonstrating the progress and effectiveness of a project, organisation or service.
It involves using a systematic approach to the collection, analysis and dissemination of data for well-defined aims and objectives.
Evaluation can be done by an external team (a commissioned evaluation) or internally. Although, in some circumstances, evaluations involve large teams of experienced researchers, many are done by service providers as an integral part of their planning and quality improvement processes.
As most evaluation is done to aid practical decision making about the future of an organisation, project or service, it’s important that
- results are delivered within an agreed and appropriate time frame
- the evaluation report is concise and clearly focussed.
Click on the links below for more about the process of evaluation
Types of evaluation
A model of evaluation widely used in health & social care
What evaluation isn’t
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