HOST Policy Research: Our Services
Evaluation and Impact Assessment
Here are some of the questions most commonly asked of HOST by those given responsibility for setting up or conducting evaluations:
- How do I set up an evaluation to provide the practical feedback we need?
- What are key performance indicators – KPIs – which are most appropriate for us and how do we measure them?
- How do we use performance indicators to look at outcomes or impact?
- Will formative or summative evaluation be best suited to our needs?
HOST can help in the following ways:
Baseline audits and mapping studies: HOST can respond quickly by drawing on an inter-disciplinary team of professionals throughout the UK with wide experience of conducting such research. We have extensive knowledge of data sources – official and non-official – and wide experience of conducting primary research to fill the information gaps often left by existing evidence.
Process training and consultancy: Many agencies are now concerned to build their own capacity and responses to conducting evaluations. HOST is able to help organisations, or individuals within them, through a customised approach to developing the necessary skills, methods or knowledge.
Critical friend service: Sometimes those responsible for evaluation feel the need for something more informal. Here HOST can provide a link to a specific HOST expert relevant to the context of the evaluation. This is a highly flexible form of support with the link expert acting as a critical friend in those areas of the evaluation where support is most needed.
Independent evaluation studies: In many cases, organisations or partnerships are looking for the whole evaluation activity to be conducted independently. We have wide credibility, and a range of experience of conducting such studies at national level, and locally and regionally – half of our professional team work from satellite centres throughout the UK.