Project Evaluation

Project evaluation, carefully designed and conducted in collaboration with project developers, can help any broader or societal impact project improve its deliverables, achieve its goals, and measure the degree to which its targeted objectives have been met. For many funded projects, evaluation is a required component. Sometimes the evaluation must be conducted by an external (outside of UA) evaluator. Other times, it is sufficient to use an independent (not affiliated with your project or department/unit) internal evaluator.

Proposal developers should contact an evaluator at least three months in advance of the proposal’s due date—earlier if possible. A good evaluation plan should be closely aligned with the project’s goals and activities. To achieve good alignment, the evaluator needs time to review a draft of the proposal, ask questions, and develop a sound evaluation plan. With short notice, some evaluators may offer to provide a generic evaluation plan. However, seasoned proposal reviewers will give your proposal a more favorable review if it has a well-integrated, tailored evaluation plan.

Whether you are writing a new proposal or are interested in evaluating an existing program, Societal Impact can help you to get started with your evaluation planning. While we may not have the capacity to conduct a project evaluation, we can help you design your project evaluation and provide periodic check-ins, or we can help to connect you with an independent internal (UA) evaluator or external evaluator.

The best place to start with any project evaluation is by completing a logic model  for the project. A logic model helps you to identify the project resources, activities, outputs (observable products or completed activities) and outcomes (shot-, mid- and long-term impacts). Once the logic model is complete, it can help you to plan and monitor project evaluation. Using the logic model as a guide, you will want to determine your evaluation questions which will then inform an evaluation data matrix.  Please explore additional evaluation resources below, or request a consultation with our team.

Download a Logic Model PDF

Download an Evaluation Questions Checklist PDF

Logic Model Template 
Download the PDF

 

Equitable Evaluation Framework

Visit the "EEF" website

 

Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit

To find more information about the Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit visit : indigenousphi.org
Download the PDF

 

Logic Models: A tool for designing and monitoring program evaluations 
Download the PDF

 

EvaluATE: Evaluation Data Matrix Template 
Download the PDF

 

Evaluation Questions Checklist for Program Evaluators 
Download the PDF

 

The 2010 NSF User-Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation 
Download the PDF

 

Broader Impacts Project Evaluation 
This website presents a number of tools for evaluating your broader impacts projects.

 

Evaluation Flash Cards: Embedding Evaluative Thinking in Organizational Culture 
Download the PDF

 

Principal Investigator’s Guide: Managing Evaluation in Informal STEM Education Projects
Download PDF

 

Evaluating Learning Outcomes from Citizen Science
Download the PDF

 

Guide to Conducting Culturally Responsive Evaluation 
Download the PDF

 

Finding and Selecting an Evaluator 
Download the PDF

 

Evaluate Undergraduate Research
Visit the "Evaluate UR" website

 

NSF Framework for Evaluating Impacts of Broadening Participation Projects
Download the PDF

References will be available shortly

Program Evaluators 

 

 
Evaluator Email Affiliation Area of Specialization
Rachel Leih, DeeDee Avery, Michele Walsh, Madeleine deBlois, Violeta Dominguez, Terrace Ewinghill, Rachel Gildersleeve, Kara Haberstock Tanoue CRED@arizona.edu Community Research, Evaluation & Development (CRED)

The CRED team carries out quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation, drawing on expertise in survey, interview and focus-group methodology as well as sophisticated quantitative and geospatial analysis techniques.

I•CRED’s primary focus is to generate accessible, actionable information that CRED’s community partners can use to support their program and policy decision-making.

Adriana Cimetta cimetta@arizona.edu Department of Educational Psychology - University of Arizona

Culturally responsive, mixed methods research and evaluation, educational measurement and assessment, and organizational change

Investigating inequities in outcomes among underrepresented and minoritized groups in STEM education contexts and in the field of evaluation

Examining sense of belonging, self-efficacy, identity, and institutional policies impacting students, college and career trajectories

Studying child and family characteristics impacting learning, development, school readiness, and health outcomes

Sanlyn Buxner buxner@arizona.edu Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies - University of Arizona Extensive experience in federally funded grant program evaluation

Science education projects

 

Melodie A. Lopez, Veronica Hirsch, Nicholas Wilson IndigenousStrategies@gmail.com Indigenous Strategies

Indigenous strategies utilizes Indigenous frameworks in evaluation and program development including tenets from Indigenous Data Sovereignty and the AIHEC Indigenous Evaluation Framework. We assess both quantitative and qualitative measures of the 7Rs (Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility, Relatedness, Relationships and Redistribution). Evaluations are centered in native nation building.

Carol Haden carol@magnoliaconsulting.org Magnolia Consulting, LLC STEM programs
Jill Williams JillMWilliams@arizona.edu Southwest Institute for Research on Women - University of Arizona

Process, impact, and outcome evaluations

Foci: Diversity, inclusion, and equity-focused programs and initiatives; STEM educational programs

Methods: qualitative (interviews, focus groups, observation) and descriptive statistics

Approach: I'm most interested in conducting evaluations that are collaborative with the project team and develop in response to changing circumstances/needs.

Jo Korchmaros

Jo Korchmaros, Director, jkorch@arizona.edu

Beth Meyerson, Director of Graduate Studies,  bmeyerson@arizona.edu 

Southwest Institute for Research on Women - University of Arizona

Sexual health

Housing insecurity

Substance abuse treatment

Public health

Social policy

We also offer a 100% online master's degree in Program Design and Evaluation