WHAT ARE YOUR FINDINGS?
There should be a clear link between your evaluation goals/objectives and your results. Using the evaluation plan, remind yourself of why the evaluation was conducted and why the data was collected. This will help you think about your results in terms of the original evaluation objectives. You should interpret all results with these objectives in mind, as well as acknowledging areas that were inconclusive.
When considering how broadly your results could be applied, you can also begin to think about what you would recommend as a result of your evaluation. Even recommendations specific to your service (e.g., improved training for staff, changes to service opening hours) could have some implications and relevance for services more broadly. The strength of the data in your evaluation will determine how broadly you can target your recommendations.
When considering how broadly your results could be applied, you can also begin to think about what you would recommend as a result of your evaluation. Even recommendations specific to your service (e.g., improved training for staff, changes to service opening hours) could have some implications and relevance for services more broadly. The strength of the data in your evaluation will determine how broadly you can target your recommendations.
WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR FINDINGS?
The stakeholders who helped develop the evaluation are an obvious audience for your evaluation findings. They may have different requirements and preferences for how they receive the results. Your audience will influence how and what you choose to report. For example, it may be appropriate to prepare a formal report to present at a conference or professional meeting, while you may need other materials for a lay audience if you were to meet with members of the community. Similarly, the message you deliver will be rather different when reporting to clients as opposed to funding agencies.
USING YOUR FINDINGS TO ENCOURAGE CHANGE
The use of evaluation methods should result in a rigorous assessment of a program's effectiveness. However, advocating for practice change within organisations can be difficult. Well-conducted evaluations can provide you with the evidence to support your argument for change. Other enablers that can assist you in getting the message out include involving key decision makers in your workplace in the planning phase of any evaluation. If they can see the connection between your evaluation aims and objectives, and the work of the organisation as a whole, you may find stronger support for implementing changes recommended by the evaluation.
Evaluation is an ongoing process and although smaller projects may face difficulties in influencing broader change, they contribute to our understanding of what does and does not work.
Evaluation is an ongoing process and although smaller projects may face difficulties in influencing broader change, they contribute to our understanding of what does and does not work.