Monthly Archives: August 2010

The Friday Funny: Are YOU a problem thinker?

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Patricia Rogers & Jane Davidson

Here’s a social problem that afflicts many evaluators around the world, worth pondering as we head into the weekend … Are YOU a problem thinker? (original author unknown – and we’ve made a few adaptations for evaluators) It started out … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Funnies | Tagged | 3 Comments

Genuine evaluation-related workshops and presentations over the next few months

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Patricia Rogers & Jane Davidson

One of the great sources of energy and ideas for both of us is the opportunity to give workshops and presentations on topics related to genuine evaluation. It’s great to be able to spend time with so many people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Adequate scope, Appropriate criteria and standards, Appropriate reporting, Professional development | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Finding “the best” way

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Patricia Rogers

Yet another study announced which aims to find “the” best way – this time the best way to treat anorexia nervosa.  As reported in The Age: Australian researchers will conduct a world-first study to find the optimal treatment for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriate inference, Appropriate reporting, Causal inference, Meta-evaluation, Synthesis of findings | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Friday Funny: New Poll Shows Correlation is Causation

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Patricia Rogers & Jane Davidson

There have been quite a few posts on Genuine Evaluation on the topic of causation. We got a kick out of this satirical newspaper report of a polling showing that correlation is, in fact, causality. What a relief! A few … Continue reading →

Posted in Causal inference, Friday Funnies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The importance of visible, high level commitment to evaluation

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Patricia Rogers

One of the favorite stories I tell about evaluation is about going to meet a senior manager to discuss evaluation and finding him standing on a table in the middle of an open-plan office, with the staff gathered around him, … Continue reading →

Posted in Evaluation team composition, Government programs, Learning from failure, The client's role | 4 Comments