Articles
Explore our latest articles, developed by our team of evaluators and special guests, grounded in real-world experience to support your evaluation practice—whether you're a beginner or an expert.
Browse below or filter by category using the dropdown!
Using Implementation Science - Video
Eval Academy’s Implementation Science video series offers practical, accessible learning for evaluation professionals. Grounded in implementation science principles, these videos translate theory into clear, usable insights that support stronger evaluation design, interpretation, and use.
AI Qualitative Analysis
This article explores how artificial intelligence can be thoughtfully and responsibly integrated into qualitative evaluation work. Drawing on hands‑on experience, the article outlines where AI can add real value—such as transcription, document scanning, and early theme development—while clearly identifying its limitations and risks.
Are You Fixing the Wrong Things? How Driver Analysis Reveals Which Survey Items Actually Drive Results
Evaluators often face a common challenge: survey results show many items scoring similarly, leaving leaders to ask, “What should we improve first?” While it’s tempting to focus on the lowest‑scoring items, these scores alone don’t reveal what actually drives key outcomes. Driver analysis fills this gap by identifying which survey items have the greatest influence on the outcome of interest.
New Resource: 10 Evaluative Thinking Questions
Evaluative thinking is part of a meaningful evaluation, yet it’s often a challenging part of the process. While data can tell us what happened, it takes intentional reflection to uncover the so what—the significance, implications, and opportunities hidden within our findings. This resource, 10 Evaluative Thinking Questions, is designed to help evaluators, program managers, staff, and partners move beyond surface-level interpretation and dig deeper into what their results truly mean.
Ultimately, this resource helps transform evaluation from a reporting exercise into a learning practice.
Imposter Syndrome In Evaluation: A Student’s Perspective
Starting out in evaluation can be exciting—but also intimidating. In this article, MSc student Letitia Koen shares her experience with imposter syndrome during her practicum and how asking questions, seeking feedback, and celebrating small wins helped her build confidence. A must-read for students and new evaluators navigating self-doubt in their own journeys.
Writing Evaluation Questions - Video
Learn how to write effective evaluation questions with these 10 expert tips from Eval Academy. Discover how to align questions with purpose, engage partners, and explore outcomes, systems, and context.
New Resource: “Evaluation And Social Media Infographic”
Uncover key do’s and don’ts for evaluators using social media. This infographic will help you to share findings ethically, engage audiences, and increase impact while protecting confidentiality.
So You’re New To Evaluation? Tips For New And Emerging Evaluators
Discover tips for new evaluators to help build skills, embrace creativity, and grow your impact in evaluation.
Does Your Evaluation Need A Subject Matter Expert?
Explore how subject matter experts (SMEs) enrich evaluation projects with insights, credibility, and engagement—plus key challenges to consider.
New Resource: “Project Management In Evaluation”
This tip sheet offers practical guidance to help evaluators manage projects more effectively—especially when things don’t go as planned. Learn how to stay adaptable, communicate clearly, and use your data to navigate challenges and keep your evaluation on track.
New Resource: “Steps For A Document Review”
Streamline your document review process with this infographic. This practical guide walks you through defining your scope, building a review framework, analyzing key findings, and turning your insights into actionable recommendations.
New Infographic: Considerations For Indigenous Evaluation
Discover key considerations for Indigenous evaluation with our new infographic, designed for those interested in culturally respectful and informed evaluation practices. This one-page downloadable PDF provides insights into Indigenous methodologies, including the 'Two-Eyed Seeing' approach, which integrates both Indigenous and Western knowledge. Perfect for evaluators and anyone seeking to enhance their knowledge of Indigenous approaches to research and program evaluation.
Evaluation As Self-Care For Your Program
Discover how evaluation serves as essential self-care for your program. Just as individuals benefit from reflection and enhancement, our programs thrive with regular evaluation to assess strengths, monitor progress, and promote ongoing improvement. Explore how integrating evaluation into your program’s routine can enhance resilience, streamline operations, and ensure long-term viability.
Why You Should Evaluate Your Healthcare Program: Lessons From Three Hive Consulting
In the world of healthcare, effective evaluation is a game-changer, guiding strategic decisions, enhancing patient care, and driving innovation. This article delves into the transformative power of evaluation, showcasing practical advice and real-world examples from Three Hive Consulting. Discover how evaluation can navigate complexities, measure effectiveness, boost accountability, and justify investments, ensuring your healthcare programs excel.
Empowering Evaluators: 12 Training Ideas Beyond Conventional Evaluation
If you’re an evaluator seeking training that goes beyond the basics, start here!
Podcast Review: Indigenous Insights: Episodes 1 And 2
The article reviews the podcast "Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast" hosted by Gladys Rowe, which explores Indigenous evaluation perspectives. Rowe, a member of Fox Lake Cree Nation, shares experiences through storytelling, promoting reflection and learning. The podcast highlights Indigenous community-centered evaluation, featuring discussions with experts about their experiences.
New Infographic: A Beginner’s Guide To Evaluation: A Summary Of Introductory Resources For New Evaluators
This infographic is for those who are new to the field of evaluation and want to learn more about it. The purpose of the infographic is to provide newcomers with valuable resources that answer three important questions about evaluation. The infographic includes a one-page PDF with clickable links to relevant resources, making it easy for beginners to explore and learn more about evaluation.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Photovoice
While traditional data collection methods like surveys, interviews, focus groups, and document reviews are well-known in evaluation, there are also innovative approaches like participatory and arts-based methods. One such method is Photovoice. While it might be daunting to embrace new techniques, it's important to recognize the value of methods like Photovoice in expanding our toolkit and enhancing evaluation practices.
Creating A Qualitative Codebook
A codebook for qualitative research is a stand-alone document that contains a list of themes, codes, and definitions that you are using in your qualitative analysis. This article outlines the structure of a qualitative codebook as well as steps to follow to create your own.
New Infographic: 10 Tips For Running A Focus Group
By leveraging group dynamics and interactions, focus groups provide a platform for participants to build on ideas, challenge assumptions, and generate new insights. In this article, we present our top tips for running successful focus groups that are efficient and gather quality data.