Professor Anthony HollanderAs scientists, we're sometimes viewed as another species. I'm on a bit of a mission to break down that stereotype by showing that I'm a human being.
Evaluation is an important part of any public engagement activity, because it tells you about what has worked, what hasn’t, and what the value of the activity has been for the different audiences. Funders will usually require evaluation, and the information you generate can be helpful for your own reflection, for reports and for colleagues. The NCCPE website has useful information to help you evaluate your activities.
Evaluation starts at the stage where you are planning an activity, not once it has finished. This is because in order to know what you want to measure, you need to know what you were trying to do for each audience (including you). So at the stage where you set objectives for the activity, you will also be thinking about what constitutes success and how you will measure it. Different tools, like a log frame, can help with this planning.
Evaluation can often be divided into two parts – formative and summative. Formative evaluation happens during the course of a project. It is a way of reflecting on what has happened and making changes in response to your findings. Summative evaluation tends to come at the end of a project and assesses the value of your activities against your original objectives.
Objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.
More information about setting objectives is available in the RCUK evaluation guide.
There are many tools available to evaluate your activities, including surveys, voting, focus groups and structured or semi-structured interviews. You can also use anecdotes and informal observations as part of your evaluation. Setting clear objectives will help you identify the appropriate tools to use.
Evaluation helps you think about how to improve your public engagement activity next time
"What was the best bit? What have we learnt?"
Evaluation can be fun!