Checklists Whether experimental, quasi experimental or non-experimental you can incorporate elements of process evaluation into your evaluation design. This will usually need to be collected as part of/in coordination with your ongoing program monitoring.
Process evaluations track program implementation in order to examine the processes through which various interventions work to generate change. Similar to program monitoring, process evaluations require regular data collection from field staff. They also tend to include independent observations of key elements of the program, for example looking at the intensity of delivery, the quality of facilitation, the type of content covered, and levels of attendance and engagement by participants. It is especially helpful for programs with complex designs which include multiple interventions.
These questions can help you, your team and your funder and evaluator decide whether process evaluation should be part of your overall design.
A process evaluation would be useful if you answer yes to one or more of these questions… |
Do you want to understand how complex interventions within your programme are working together? |
Do you want to understand the role of local context and how that influences the success of your programme? |
Do you want to know about the quality of implementation in your programme and fidelity to your original programme design? |
Do you want to know what time, skills and other resources have been needed for effective programme delivery? |
Do you you want to understand levels of engagement among participants and how this has varied? |
If your evaluation finds your program has not delivered change as intended, will you want to know whether that was due to a flaw in your ToC or due to the way your programme was implemented? |
