Evaluation Plan Guidance (Page 9 of 68) in pdf

EVALUATION PLAN GUIDANCE

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND

I. Introduction

The introduction to your evaluation plan establishes the context of the evaluation that you are proposing. It

should further describe the program background and problem definition, and give an overview of prior

research on the program. A program description and overview of prior research are crucial to setting up the

overall evaluation design. They provide a starting point for assessing outcome measurement in the current

program. At the same time, they also provide an understanding of how the program has worked in the past

and what evidence of effectiveness may be expected, as well as information on potential

control

comparison

groups.

Program Background and Problem Definition

A strong description of the program and its origins contextualizes the evaluation. The relationship of the

program to the problem it is designed to address is also important tounderstand the overall evaluation design.

Specific Guidance: Program Background and Problem Definition

The Program Background and Problem Definition section describes the problem or issue the program

addresses. As part of this description, the evaluation plan should briefly discuss the program theory and logic

model. This section should also include information concerning program components,

intervention

level,

beneficiaries, and key outcomes.

Overview of Prior Research

SIF-funded programs are expected to meet an evidence threshold to be funded and must build upon this

evidence as a requirement of the grant. In general, it is important to identify what research has been done and

how the planned evaluation will contribute or build upon this existing research base. In this section, document

the previous research that has been completed and contextualize the evaluation plan.

Specific Guidance: Overview of Prior Research

Describe any evaluations or other research on the program, and include the following for each:



When the study was done;



Who conducted the study;



The program population (number and brief description) involved in the studies;



Any comparison or control group involved (number and brief description);



The evaluation approach or methods used (e.g., randomized controlled trial, quasi-experimental

design, case studies, implementation study);



A brief description of the findings; and



The level of evidence attained (e.g., moderate, strong).

Include the same information listed above for any relevant research or evaluation findings on similar

programs (e.g., programs using the same intervention in other locations or similar interventions with either the

same or different populations).

Note: If the current program has a large pre-existing evidence base or if there is extensive research on similar

programs, it may be more practical to include information from key evaluation studies or any available meta-

nationalservice.gov/SIF

Evaluation Plan Guidance Page 9

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