Frequently, analysts or evaluators gather information of workers, children, programs, participants and so on, and subsequently realize that information is missing on some important variables for several respondents in the sample. For example, in a survey we have administered to artists in communities around the country, some artists choose not to report their interests in specific services or income level. Missing data is an issue in nearly every study, and the evaluator has to decide which methods are the most appropriate for dealing with this complex issue.
June 3, 2013 - 4:00pm
May 29, 2013 - 5:27pm
In the world of evaluation and research you are constantly making connections and collaborations with people from a multitude of backgrounds and locations. The challenge to find the stakeholder you are looking for, establish trust, and engage them to respond can be daunting. At the Improve Group we have established some practices that help 
May 29, 2013 - 5:26pm
The American Marketing Association defines market research as the process of using information to link the public to marketers. Investopedia says market research allows companies to better understand their target market and how they will respond to a product or service. Market research is traditionally seen as being used in the business sector.
April 25, 2013 - 1:09pm
Skills to Select the Right RFP
April 9, 2013 - 5:28pm
If you are dealing with very sensitive data, you have to think beyond your own data security systems and also carefully consider the tools you are using. Because of the move to cloud and web-based services, it is important to understand how your data is being kept and stored by outside parties.
March 20, 2013 - 3:44pm
Sometimes your ideas aren’t linear. They involve complex relationships, dependencies, etc.
March 20, 2013 - 3:37pm
The Improve Group is always looking for creative ways to measure and evaluate program outcomes and their long-term impacts. Ripple effect mapping brings something new to the table by framing analysis around the initial program outcomes and how they connect to and interact with the larger service area, community, etc. It is a participatory strategy for measuring program outcomes, particularly those requiring collaboration among stakeholders or sectors.
March 18, 2013 - 7:35pm
Evaluation for Improvement: A Seven-Step Empowerment Evaluation Approach provides an in-depth analysis and practical application of Empowerment Evaluation. Empowerment Evaluation (EE) is gaining a lot of attention in the evaluation community. The overarching goal of this approach is to empower a program’s stakeholders with the capacity to effectively plan, implement and evaluate their own programs.