Systems in Evaluation

Systems in Eval TIG: Brandon Coffee-Borden on Using Social Network Analysis to Describe and Analyze Systems

I’m Brandon Coffee-Borden, an Associate at Community Science and Program Co-chair for the Systems in Evaluation TIG. In this post, I will discuss the use of social network analysis (SNA) as a way to describe and analyze systems. SNA is an approach to understanding structures and connections through the use of network theory. Networks are …

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Systems in Eval TIG: Jan Noga on Speaking “Systems” with Non-Systems Folks

Hi! My name is Jan Noga and I am the owner of Pathfinder Evaluation and Consulting in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m also a long-time member of the Systems TIG and user of systems thinking in my evaluation practice. A systems perspective for evaluation provides incredible insight into the “how” and “why” of program outcomes, generating rich …

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CASNET Week: Scott Pattison, Melanie Francisco, and Juli Goss on Enhancing ECB within a System

Greetings! This is Scott Pattison and Melanie Francisco from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Juli Goss from the Museum of Science, Boston. We are part of the research team for the NSF-funded Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Network Evaluations (CASNET) project. Today we’re focusing on how project leaders and senior …

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CASNET Week: Jean King and Gayra Ostegaard Eliou on Applying Systems Thinking to Evaluation Capacity Building

This is Jean King and Gayra Ostegaard Eliou, from the University of Minnesota, members of the Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Network Evaluations (CASNET) research team. NSF funded CASNET to provide insights on (1) the implications of complexity theory for designing evaluation systems that “promote widespread and systemic use of evaluation within a …

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Bethany Laursen and Kylie Hutchinson On The First Ever Systems in Evaluation Unconference

We’re Bethany Laursen and Kylie Hutchinson, volunteer members of the upcoming Systems in Evaluation Unconference coordinating committee. This October 13 – 15, 2015 from 3 – 4:30 pm ET evaluators everywhere will be able to participate in a unique online learning event, a virtual unconference, hosted by the AEA Systems in Evaluation Topical Interest Group …

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Bob Williams: A Systems Practitioner’s Journey

Kia Ora! I’m Bob Williams. In our book Systems Concepts in Action : A Practitioner’s Toolkit, Richard Hummelbrunner and I distinguished between describing situations, thinking systemically, and being systemic.  I’ve see these notions describing three stages of a journey.  As you read these three scenario, pose yourself the following questions.  How well do the scenario …

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SW TIG Week: Katrina Brewsaugh on Why You Want a Social Worker on Your Evaluation Team

I’m Katrina Brewsaugh, Senior Associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  As part of Social Work TIG week on aea365, I’d like to tell you why social workers are an asset to an evaluation team.  Evaluation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of social work, but the training …

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Dawn Henderson on You cannot get to CRE if you don’t have the E-valuation

Greetings, I am Dawn Henderson, a faculty member in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University and a Research Associate at the Center for Community Safety. Program evaluation is a major component of the work that I do and, recently, I have been struggling with the concept of culturally responsive evaluation (CRE). Much …

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Samuel Otoo on an Integrated Approach to Results Management in a Knowledge Organization

Hello, I am Samuel Otoo, manager of the Capacity Development and Results unit at the World Bank Institute (WBI). Since 2009, our team has been developing a body of knowledge around the results of capacity development initiatives. This work is built around the Capacity Development Results Framework (CDRF), and focuses on capacity development as a …

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ECLIPS and Systems TIG Week: Tarek Azzam and Matt Keene Recap Systems-Oriented Evaluation

Hello! We are Tarek Azzam (Claremont Graduate University) and Matt Keene (Environmental Protection Agency). We are members of the External Review Panel for ECLIPS. Whoa! Even though it’s oh-so-tempting to try, you don’t need the perfect string of words to define “systems-oriented evaluation.” Lesson Learned: It’s in the roots of evaluation  At its core a …

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