Evaluation Plan Guidance (Page 34 of 68) in pdf

Evaluation Plan Guidance Page 34

EVALUATION PLAN GUIDANCE

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND

Timeline

The study timeline, in coordination with the budget, serves as a crucial checkpoint for the practicality of the

design. A detailed timeline can address how key study elements fit together. Key elements to consider

incorporating are:



Study planning;

Additional Resources



IRB;



Sampling;

A sample timeline is included



Data collection instrument creation;

in Appendix C (Examples and



Data collection;

Templates) at the end of this



document.

Analysis;



Interviews with key staff;



Report writing;



Report deadlines; and



Meetings with staff.

Specific Guidance: Timeline

Include a detailed and feasible timeline that lists all the major events in the evaluation and their start and end

dates. At a minimum, list the major components used for budgeting. The timeline should, at minimum,

include sections for design (including IRB clearance if needed), instrument development, sampling and

assignment of participants and controls, data collection, data analysis, and report writing and dissemination.

Within these major components, subcategories for key tasks are useful for tracking and monitoring. For

example, under data collection, you might list each data collection point such as baseline, intermediate, follow-

up, and/or final data collection. For a multi-year evaluation, the timeline should show each year and the

activities within that year.

The reporting schedule will need to conform to the reporting approach outlined above, with each report listed

under the timeline section and ideally, sub-tasks for each report (outline, draft, review schedule, finalizing and

dissemination).

Budget

Developing the evaluation budget is an important step in determining the

Additional Resources

feasibility of the plan. Identifying costs for each of the steps in an evaluation,

if done thoroughly, can clarify not only what components are included in the

Please see the Sample Budget

evaluation and who is doing them, but also whether those steps are practical

and LOE in Appendix C

given the time and resources available to the project. The budget should

(Examples and Templates) at

reflect not only tasks, but responsible entities/individuals and the estimated

the end of this document.

time that tasks will take. During the budgeting process, it may be necessary to

revisit the evaluation plan and revise or provide further details on how evaluators and program staff will carry

out each part of the evaluation.

nationalservice.gov/SIF

Evaluation Plan Guidance Page 34

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