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Evaluation Design:
Surveys and Questionnaires | Interviews & Focus Groups | Observations
Document Review | Activity-Focused
Evaluation Plans
Evaluation Design
There are many methods you can use in your evaluation design. See the guides below to assist in choosing which method(s) to use.
- Advantage and Challenges of Data Collection Methods
- Choosing Data-Gathering Methods for Your Project
- Interactive Online Course: Planning Evaluation Design (Step 2 of full program: Evaluating Sexual Violence Prevention Programs: Steps and Strategies for Preventioinsts)
To learn more please click on each item below to be directed to see quick guide, in-depth guide, and learning opportunities for each method.
Surveys and Questionnaires
A written or electronic way for participants to self-report or agencies to collect data
In-Depth Guide
Collecting Evaluation Data: End-of-Session
Questionnaires (UW Extension)
Questionnaire Design: Asking Questions with a Purpose (UW Extension)
Tools and Templates
Interviews & Focus Groups
Interview: An interview can be conducted orally to receive data in a one-to-one setting. Focus groups: A group of participants are asked a series of questions together.
Quick Guide
In-Depth Guide
Focus Group and Interview Guide (From the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault)
Listening to our Communities - A Guide for Focus Groups (Part of the National Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative Toolkit on community assessment approaches to support the growth of sexual assault services within multi-service programs)
Participants in a Focus Group (Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research - Sage Publishing)
Focus Group Guide Checklist (From the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension)
The Ultimate Guide to Anecdote Circles (This is a great guide for conducting group storytelling for evaluation purposes - anecdote circles are sometimes used in place of focus groups.)
Examples
Focus Group Discussion Guide Sample Focus Group Questions (From plus 50 Ageless Learning)
Tools and Templates
Focus group checklist by the Community Tool Box
Observations
Observing and documenting a setting can be used for evaluation.
Quick Start Guide
In-Depth Guide
Collecting Evaluation Data: Direct Observation (UW Extension)
Examples
Document Review
Reviewing a variety of documents including records, meeting minutes, news articles, and other archives can be useful for evaluation.
Tools and Templates
Activity-Focused
During the actual intervention, data can be collected using activities by participants.
Quick Guide
Activity-focused evaluation involves using activities in your programming to collect data for evaluation purposes. This can involve observations, document review from participant materials, poll questions, and other items. Please refer to the podcast below for a more thorough definition and examples.
In-Depth Guide
Activity Based Assessment as an Evaluation Method for Prevention and Outreach Presentation
Activity-Based Assessment: Toolkit for Integrating Evaluation into Prevention Curricula- Texas Association Against Sexual Assault & the Texas Council on Family Violence
Activity-Based Assessment: An Approach to Building Evaluation into Prevention Curricula - Slides (NSAC)
Multi-Media Learning
Tools and Templates