What is Evaluation?

Have you ever noticed that kids ask a lot of questions? My granddaughter recently asked me why I was wearing jeans that were ripped. They happen to be one of my favorite pairs, super comfy with rips at the knees.

It’s the style I told her.

A few months ago I was speaking at a conference for community coalition leaders working to prevent suicide among veterans, service members, and their families. The conference leaders told me that the coalition leaders were doing a lot of great things in their community, but they weren’t evaluating their efforts. Despite TA, training, and resources, evaluation wasn’t happening, at least not much anyway. Sure enough, when I talked to the people attending my session, they said that evaluation just seemed so complex.

Evaluation is pretty simple, and friend, you do it every day.

I gave them this definition of evaluation from Michael Q Patton: evaluation boils down to this:

Ask Questions. Get Answers. Act on those Answers.

At its core, evaluation is really that simple.

Be sure and ask good, evaluative questions (questions that get at the value of what you are doing) and get started. Don’t let inertia keep you stuck

Hope this short reminder helps you or someone you know (please share this with someone who needs it).