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Methodology

Methodology is more than methods. It is about how we think about knowledge, evidence and rigour, and whose ways of knowing shape the choices we make. Posts here explore methodological thinking especially at the evaluation-transformation nexus — evaluation OF, FOR, AS AND IN transformation — from technical design and mixed methods to epistemological foundations, complexity-or living systems responsive approaches, and what methodological fitness for purpose in this time of polycrisis demands.
03
Aug
Fred Carden's Top YEE Tips: 'Whose knowledge' matters!

Fred Carden's Top YEE Tips: 'Whose knowledge' matters!

Whatever methods and frameworks we use, we tend to rely on the scientific, the 'objective' data and evidence;
2 min read
31
Jul
Zenda's Top YEE Tips 2

Zenda's Top YEE Tips 2

While the five 'Top Ten Tips' in my previous post for Young and Emerging Evaluators (YEEs) related more
8 min read
28
Jul
Economists, Aid and RCTs

Economists, Aid and RCTs

"Aid projects might yield satisfying micro-results, but they generally do little to change the systems that produce the
5 min read
26
Jul
Zenda's Top YEE Tips 1

Zenda's Top YEE Tips 1

Given my 17-year long experience in evaluation, what are the top tips I would give to Young and Emerging
6 min read
10
Jul
Towards Transformation, 1. The buzzword

Towards Transformation, 1. The buzzword

Can evaluation help enable and support transformative development? We know we need the latter. Yet like sustainability, transformation (or transformative
5 min read
14
Feb
Dialogue evaluation

Dialogue evaluation

Many years ago, at the beginning of my evaluation career, I read about 'dialogue evaluation'. It is a
2 min read
13
Feb
Evaluation as risk management

Evaluation as risk management

Evaluators' power and influence are limited. There are several reasons for this situation. One relates to how our craft
2 min read
09
Feb
Definitions and glossaries

Definitions and glossaries

Definitions of terms are crucial for common understanding in any field of human endeavour. The diversity of actors entering and
3 min read
08
Feb
Capacity development

Challenging narratives: Capacity development

How good are we at defining and judging 'success' - the essence of what evaluators do? Let us consider
4 min read
14
Nov
The DAC criteria, Part 11. From criteria to design principles

The DAC criteria, Part 11. From criteria to design principles

Evaluation criteria used in development contexts do not only show what evaluation commissioners, evaluators and other stakeholders value. They also
6 min read