Evaluation techniques
Many consultancies claim to be able to carry out evaluation, but
few operate to standards of excellence in professional evaluation
methodology. At M·E·L Research by contrast, evaluation is part
of our business name and we have developed as a national centre of
excellence in applying strong and rigorous evaluation techniques in
helping clients assess intervention impact and outcome; and decide
what works, why it works and how it can work more efficiently. Our
evaluation statement can be downloaded here.
We work to the Cabinet Office Magenta
Book guidelines which define policy evaluation as "using a range of
research methods to systematically investigate the effectiveness of
policy interventions, implementation and process, and to determine
their merit, worth or value in terms of improving the social and
economic conditions of different stakeholders", summarized in
essence as "the process of establishing the merit or worth of
something".
An important principle in evaluation
methodology, which we apply to all our evaluation assignments, is
to recognise the distinction between formative and summative
evaluation. Both are relevant in applying evaluation processes to
help shape waste prevention, and both require a form of
measurement.
Summative evaluation,
sometimes called impact evaluation, deals in essence with
determining the effects or results arising from an intervention,
while formative evaluation, sometimes called
process evaluation, is concerned with 'what works'; how, why and
under what circumstances.
Monitoring - sometimes
incorrectly interpreted as evaluation - offers a sequence of
measurements over time and the interpretation of monitoring data is
often part of the evaluation process, but evaluation involves a
judgement or inference to be made based on the monitoring data. The
judgement often involves coming to the view that an intervention
has produced an impact and works, or does not work. But monitoring
by itself is not evaluation.
Our extended evaluations, working to a
pre-agreed evaluation framework, allow other evaluation parameters
to be determined such as attribution, additionality, substitution,
leverage and value for money. Working with the technically sound
data from our rigorous measurement processes, our ability to
provide top quality, trusted and reliable evaluations is ideally
suited to the tough demands now being placed in the UK's public
services to 'deliver more for less'.
For further information on
our evaluation services or to get a quote directly, please
contact Bob Pocock (0121
604 4664)