When planning to integrate evaluation in your work, it can be helpful to reflect on the various responsibilities associated with evaluation:
Responsibility | Who can do this? | |
Identify key evaluation questions and priorities | Organizational leaders, with input from other staff and organizational stakeholders | |
Determine how questions will be answered, and what information will be used | Staff or volunteers, with input from organizational leaders | |
Gather information | Anyone can gather information: staff, volunteers, consultants, even participants can gather information from each other | |
Record and organize information | Ideally, information is recorded as it is gathered (i.e., through a web-based survey), but occasionally additional input is needed, likely from staff or volunteers | |
Analyze and interpret information | Interpretation should be a collaborative activity; while one staff person, volunteer or consultant may do an initial analysis, it is helpful to get several perspectives in deciding how to use information | |
Sharing or reporting information | Someone who represents your organization well; presenting information to stakeholders is a great way for line staff to take ownership of programs, although for some audiences it might be important to have an external, objective voice |