Evaluation Data Collection
Data collection for evaluation only comes after a series of important questions have been resolved in the planning and design phases. Typically, data collection comes in the form of interviews, focus groups, surveys, document review, or direct observation. Each of the questions and structure must be designed with evaluation questions and objectives in mind.
Evaluation Interviews
What is it? Interviews allow you to obtain an individual’s perspective in their own words in a much more in-depth way than in open-ended questions in surveys. Interviews are considered qualitative research and allow for “drilling down” into issues to better understand the interviewee’s response. They are ideal for understanding more about a person’s knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, attributes, or behaviors. As such, they are often used in formative assessments, as well as process and impact designs. Interviews may be conducted in person, through a web-conferencing software, or over the phone. Our consultants can help you effectively plan your interviews to ensure you get the data you need to make decisions and resource allocations effectively, and to gather the information you need to meet your evaluation objectives.
How can we help you?
- Identify whether you need structured, unstructured, or semi-structured interviews for your evaluation
- Develop appropriate interview questions aligned with evaluation objectives or goals
- Learn how to conduct interviews in an un-biased way that yields in-depth information
Related Services
Lessons Learned
Lessons learned are experiences, knowledge, understandings, or outcomes gained by experience from a particular project or program that should be taken into account on future projects or programs.
Learn MoreMonitoring & Evaluation
Coaches have experience and expertise to support the learning and tasks of the people that need help.
Learn MoreEvaluation Coaching & Training
Coaches have experience and expertise to support the learning and tasks of the people that need help.
Learn MoreEvaluation Logic Models
A logic model is a one-page, compelling graphic (your road map) that tells the reader/reviewer exactly what, when, where, why, and how.
Learn MoreArticles and White Papers About Evaluation Interviews
Why Is Rapid Assessment Key to Achieving Our Goals?
Articles and White Papers About Internal vs. External Evaluation How Do You Get Started With Your Program Evaluation? Read More How Does Your Organization Build Its Credibility? Read More Why Is Rapid Assessment Key to Achieving Our Goals? Read More Why Consider Assumptions and External Factors? The Make or Break...
Read More
Utilizing Structured vs. Semi-Structured Interviews in Medical Health Studies
What is a Structured Interview? Structured interviews are not often used in qualitative research and are most often used when wanting to easily compare participants. Structured interviews involve asking each participant a specific set of questions in a distinct format to collect useful information on a topic. In structured interview...
Read More
Navigating Interview Ethics and Consent in Independent Research Projects
Ethical Considerations When conducting interviews in qualitative research projects, researchers are responsible for thinking about the various ethical concerns that might arise.[1] Among these ethical considerations are: Informed Consent – When conducting qualitative interviews, one of the most important ethical considerations is obtaining informed consent from all participants who will...
Read MoreFAQ About Evaluation Interviews
Data can be collected through the use of standardized checklists or observation guides, or through hand-written or voice-recorded field notes that collect open-ended narrative data.
It can depend on the specific project, but typically focus groups are best composed by homogenous groups, or groups of people who share common attributes. The commonalities shared by a group should be determined by the evaluation goals, the topics being explored, and the cultural context of the evaluation.
Semi-structured interviewing is the most common type, which includes an interview guide with pre-determined open-ended questions, but also the flexibility of allowing spontaenuous follow-up questions and probing to yield in-depth data.
When thinking about cultural considerations, assessing your own cultural self-awareness is a good place to start so that you are open to and value differing points of view and approaches. Engaging stakeholders who reflect the diversity of the community in which the program is taking place is another important consideration.
From Interviews to Infographics: Reporting Qual Data for Community Use
Introduction Qualitative research plays a critical role in community-engaged studies by capturing lived experiences, narratives, and social complexities that quantitative data often cannot. However, a persistent challenge lies in translating these nuanced insights into accessible, actionable formats for non-academic stakeholders—especially community members who are usually the subjects and beneficiaries of...
Read More
How to Write Qualitative Research Reports for Funders and Stakeholders
Introduction Qualitative research is a powerful tool for understanding complex social, behavioral, and organizational phenomena. Its strength lies in capturing rich, contextual, and nuanced data that reflect the lived experiences of individuals and communities. To translate insights into tangible impact, findings must be communicated effectively to decision-makers (funders, policymakers, practitioners,...
Read More
Turning Words into Action: How to Spot Actionable Insights in Interviews
Introduction In the business world, qualitative interviews offer a powerful window into users’ needs, frustrations, and motivations—insights which are often invisible in quantitative data. Yet those rich stories can remain dormant if not translated into action. In applied settings like product teams, marketing departments, and customer experience efforts, turning words...
Read More
Publishing Qualitative Research from Community Projects: What Funders and Journals Want
Introduction Qualitative research rooted in community projects often holds the potential to generate deep, contextually rich insights that inform social programs, policy, and participatory action. However, the journey from community engagement to published work requires alignment with the expectations of both funders and peer-reviewed journals. Understanding these expectations is critical...
Read MoreWhat Our Clients Say About Us
Peggy Ostrander, DNPc, APRN, FNP-C Plano, Texas