using an outcomes framework to design an indigenous youth program (case study 3 of 3)

This case study explains how I used an outcomes framework to help design an Indigenous youth program.

Using digital storytelling to include youth voices in evaluation (case study 2 of 3)

In this case study we talk about how we used digital storytelling in a longitudinal evaluation of a school-based orchestral music program.

Advocacy, Social Policy Whisperer, Creating using evidence, IssuesGuest User10 December 2014communication, young people

Using developmental evaluation to build data collection frameworks (evaluation case study 1 of 3)

This is the first of three case studies I will be posting about evaluation this week.

Creating using evidence, Social Policy WhispererGuest User9 December 2014research, lauren siegmann

Evaluation case study Week at Power to Persuade

This week is all about practical case studies in evaluation. In particular, this week is all about how I do on-the-ground evaluations with programs.

Creating using evidence, Social Policy WhispererGuest User9 December 2014research, lauren siegmann

OUTCOMES FOR THE MOST DISADVANTAGED: Competition verses co-operation?

The Harper Review proposed increased competition in the social services sector. Below, Vin Martin & Dennis Fitzgerald from Catholic Social Services Australia respond.

Impact or outcome, what's the difference??

We've run a few pieces this year on the impact/outcome funding debate. James Rees has run a three part piece (part 3 still to come) on different aspects of the impact agenda, including possible pitfalls and how one might differentiate the contribution of community-based organisations within such an agenda. Fiona Buick, Pauline McLoughlin and I also wrote piece on the potential benefits of outcomes based funding. Impact and outcome tend to get a little tangled up in these discussions. Below, Andrew Harding does a little disentangling. Andrew Harding is undertaking a doctoral research project at Bournemouth University with Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC). This piece first appeared on the LSE Impact Blog

Creating using evidenceDr Pauline McLoughlin1 December 2014outcome and impacts

Social Inclusion Week: promising steps to ending youth homelessness

In this post to mark Social Inclusion Week (Nov 22-30), Chris Stone writes that new integrated approaches to the complex issue of youth homelessness is offering hope for young people and communities.

Doing Development Differently: Report back from the two mind- blowing days at Harvard

Duncan Green, strategic adviser for Oxfam GB and author of ‘From Poverty to Power’ offers some tips, observations and concerns about 'Doing Development Differently' that are likely to strike a chord for readers in the social and health sectors too.

Thanks to Duncan for permission to republish the article, originally published on his blog.

Whats the problem? ComplexITY and social policy

The push to collaborate has increased the complexity of the policy-making and policy-implementation processes.

To collaborate effectively, the right supports and platforms are necessary. In this post, Dr Gemma Carey from Australian National University reflects on this problem, and what she and others are doing to remedy it.

Creating using evidence, Policy and governanceDr. Gemma Carey16 November 2014policy research, policy making

Violence against women: prevalent, serious and preventable

In today's post, Kate Hauser, Health Promotion Worker at Women’s Health West, the women’s health service for the western metropolitan region of Melbourne, explores the implications of VicHealth's recently released National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey.

Creating using evidence, IssuesPower to Persuade12 November 2014violence against women

Welfare Reform and Young People: Policy v evidence

Supporting people into paid work has many positive benefits, but are current 'earn or learn' policies in regards to young people going to help or hinder their economic participation? In this post, Tanya Corrie and Susan Maury from Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand reflect on what the evidence says, and ways policy can be built to enable better outcomes.

Creating using evidence, IssuesGood Shepherd5 November 2014evidence-based policy, social inequalities, young people

FRIDAY FUN- what type of program Evaluation are you? Take this easy quiz to find out!

I know it's the question that keeps you awake at night...'If I were a program evaluation' you think to yourself, 'what kind would I be?'

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade31 October 2014research

"it's like being caught in a whirlpool" participant musing on creating change, from the 2014 Power to Persuade symposium

The 2014 Power to Persuade Symposium was held in Melbourne on the 16th of September. One of our afternoon sessions, ‘Practical Strategies for Implementation’ focussed on a participatory workshop process, where the symposium attendees were asked to reflect on their work. This article summarises the key themes that arose from this workshop process.

Creating using evidence, Social Policy WhispererGuest User29 October 2014research, lauren siegmann

Negative stereotypes and evidence-based policy

Cynicism has been creeping into debates over evidence-based policy. We've certainly noticed this in the last two PTP symposiums, with speakers urging a more realistic adoption of 'informed policy'. Below,Kathryn Oliver, Simon Innvær, Theo Lorenc, Jenny Woodman, andJames Thomas examine some of the on-going barriers to evidence-based (and even evidence-informed) policy. This post originally appeared on the LSE Impact Blog.

Whats wrong with impact agenda?

Dr James Rees (@JamesRees_tsrc) from the Third Sector Research Centre examines the challenges of emerging 'impact agendas' with regard to funding community sector organisations. This is the second of three blog posts from James which tackle different aspects of this issue.Part one, Taming the monster', examined the value add of the community sector in service delivery and policy implementation.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade23 October 2014outcome and impacts

Sponsored policy research: getting the right balance between academic policy and its 'usefulness'

This post originally appeared on Professor Christina Boswell's personal blog, but we felt it was highly relevant in Australia particularly given the recently announced review of the ARC's Cooperative Research Centre program. Christina in a Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, her research explores the use of knowledge in policymaking and politics.

What should we be paying attention to in policy, cause or effect?

When we think about policy and politics, we tend to gravitate to the elite - concentrating on the efforts of a select few in shaping the process. In today's post, Dr Kemran Mestan provides a timely reminder to not lose sight of policy effects.

Kemran is a senior research officer at La Trobe University, you can read more about his research here.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade20 October 2014outcome and impacts

A closer look at policy targeting and its role in addressing inequality

Policy that targets those groups most in need is the fairest way to distribute limited resources, right? Not necessarily, writes Dr Gemma Carey.

Nuances of evidence-based policy

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade10 October 2014evidence-based policy

Data, more data and statistics

At this year's Power to Persuade Symposium, we looked at the role of data vs anecdote in influencing policy. Prof Richard Madden, from Sydney University, reminded us that statistics also have a good story to tell if we are only prepared to listen...

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade4 October 2014research

Blog

THIS WEEK’S MODERATOR