HOST Policy Research: Consortium Research and Workshop Programme
This page focuses on the Workshop Programme, a separate page focuses on the Consortia Research.
Strand Two: Workshop Programme
The HOST network of Associates has extensive experience and knowledge on all phases of research and evaluation programmes. Because it is more pleasurable and better value for all to work with people who are well informed and knowledgeable, the HOST team are planning to run a series of workshops from early summer 2011 to winter 2011 on various aspects of research and evaluation activity.
We have packaged together a series of workshops with the aim of providing the maximum amount of information for the target audience, with the minimum amount of disruption to workload and at an affordable cost. The workshops also recognise the value placed on peer group discussion and interaction, so the structure allows time for discussion outside of the workshop environment over an evening meal. Certain workshops will be supported by a follow-up mentoring arrangement or by a question and answer webinar session offered at a later date.
Currently three packages are under development:
Package A – Aimed at those who commission research or who are responsible for overseeing research and evaluation within their organisation.
A.1 – Commissioning Research
A.2 – Introduction to evaluation
A.3 – A Practical Guide to Impact Assessment
The workshops will take the participant through the stages of deciding the best way to tackle an assignment, including defining the research questions and the required outputs, selecting and managing the team who will undertake the work, the basic principles of evaluation, and practical methods of assessing impact. This package will be delivered by a highly experienced team, including Dorothy Berry-Lound, Dr David Parsons, Valerie Rowe and Dr Jane Holland.
Package B – aimed at those who are involved in the practical application of research and evaluation within their organisation and with an emphasis on qualitative methods.
B.1 – Introduction to Evaluation
B.2 – Qualitative Research Methods
B.3 – Engaging with the Seldom Heard
The workshops will take the participant through the principles of evaluation, before looking at some key qualitative research methods for gaining information and perceptions, before addressing how to engage in the research or evaluation process those who are hard to reach or seldom heard. This package will be delivered by a team including Dorothy Berry-Lound, Dr Jane Holland and Dr Inge Hill.
Package C – aimed at those who are involved in the practical application of research and evaluation within their organisation and with an emphasis on quantitative methods.
C.1 – Introduction to Evaluation
C.2 – Making the most of Publicly Available Data
C.3 – Questionnaire Development
In this package of workshops, the participant will first learn the basic principles of evaluation, before looking at the publicly available data that can support research and evaluation activity, including its limitations. There will then be a highly interactive session looking at how to develop questionnaires that will assist in getting the relevant information for research and evaluation projects. This package will be delivered by a team including Dorothy Berry-Lound, Dr Jane Holland and Sue Sibley.
Full details of the workshop packages, dates, venues and costs will be published on this website, but if you want to be sure that you find out about these opportunities as soon as they are released, sign up below.
“HOST took a very flexible and professional approach to a difficult project.”