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Showing posts from May, 2024

Understanding the Differences: Research vs. Evaluation

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RESEARCH VS. EVALUATION While research and evaluation can sometimes overlap, they serve distinct purposes. Let's delve into their key functions. RESEARCH investigates how something works and why things happen. It seeks to expand knowledge or generate new insights or theories about a particular subject. The knowledge can then be applied to broader contexts. EVALUATION determines the worth and significance of something, typically for specific stakeholders. Its primary focus is to assess  the effectiveness  and impact of programs, services, or initiatives. It provides informed decisions, such as feedback and recommendations for future planning, implementation, improvement, and sustainability. Evaluation and social science research, particularly community-based research, often use similar data collection and analysis strategies. They can also complement each other. Research can inform the design of an evaluation, and the findings from the evaluation can guide future research ...

GENDER EQUALITY VS GENDER EQUITY: Understanding the Difference

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GENDER EQUALITY VS GENDER EQUITY  While gender equality and gender equity are often mentioned together in the pursuit of a fair and inclusive society, there is a key difference between them.   Check the images below for further details. Hnin Ei Lwin #monitoringandevaluation #monitoring #evaluation #MEARL #Research #Social #development #humanitarian #publichealth

Three Key Research Ethics

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Social research goes beyond simply finding answers; it's about doing so ethically. Three key principles underpin ethical research, which are detailed in the image below.   Hnin Ei Lwin #research #MEARL # monitoring #evaluation #accountability #reporting #learning  #social #development #humanitarian #public-health #ethics #consent #confidentiality #non-maleficence

Summer of MSC (Most Significant Change)

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MSC, short for Most Significant Change, collects and analyzes personal narratives to grasp impactful positive or negative experiences on individuals or groups.  Employing systematic methods for story collection, selection, and verification, MSC illuminates change processes by considering diverse perspectives and stakeholder values.  This makes it beneficial for a range of evaluations and program theory development, demanding skilled facilitators and transparent selection criteria. See more details below. Hnin Ei Lwin #research #MEARL # monitoring #evaluation #accountability #reporting #learning  #social #development #humanitarian #public-health #most-significant-change #MSC

Applying Goodhart's Law for Effective M&E

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Goodhart's Law: 'When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.' Building on Goodhart's Law, here are my key thoughts for M&E: • Focus Beyond Targets : Focusing solely on hitting targets in M&E can lead to neglecting other important aspects. People might prioritize activities that "game the system" rather than achieving true program goals. A broader view is crucial to assess real impact. • The Bigger Picture : Numbers are valuable, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. Qualitative data, such as participant feedback or implementation observations, helps us understand the "why" behind the numbers. Considering context helps M&E accurately assess progress and the program's true impact. • Beyond Measurables : Sometimes, the most important program aspects are hard to quantify. Focusing too much on meeting metrics can distract from the actual impact. For a holistic view, M&E should use both quantitative and qual...