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 Surveys
What is it? A survey is a set of questions around a topic, administered to a specific set of people. Surveys are mostly closed-questions—meaning, the participant usually has a limited response range from which to choose, such as multiple-choice questions or questions on a 5 point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Each question can be statistically analyzed, and the findings generalized to a larger population if properly sampled. Surveys can be administered online, via telephone, or on paper.
Surveys are useful in evaluation, as they are an efficient way of collecting data from a smaller group of people in order to understand the effects of your program on the broader population, and thereby answer your research and evaluation questions. However, to do this, survey questions must be written carefully, and with the goal of analysis in mind. Our consultants can help you ensure that the data you collect through an adequate sample can be properly analyzed to address your organizational questions, whether it is through process, outcome, or impact designs.
How can we help you?
- Determine which type of survey would best serve your purposes
- Identify the appropriate sample and methodology for data collection
- Set up analysis plan and database plan
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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.
Document review can provide important background information for an evaluation, and it can bring to light considerations or issues around a project that may not be possible through other means of data collection. Document review is also typically unobtrusive since it does not require collecting data from participants, and it can be relatively inexpensive.
Data from document review can be inaccurate, incomplete, biased, disorganized, or irrelevant, therefore, it can also be time consuming to compile, organize, and analyze a large volume of documents.
No, not all surveys need to be written in Likert format. The advantage, however, is being able to quantify change. If you are assessing outcome change, Likert scale options are a great way to be able to show a demonstrated change, if any, between two time periods.
Survey length is dependent on the purpose and, ultimately, the audience. Ideally, surveys should take no longer than 15 minutes for respondents to complete.
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Peggy Ostrander, DNPc, APRN, FNP-C Plano, Texas