The BetterEvaluation Resource Library contains hundreds of curated and co-created resources related to managing, conducting, using, and strengthening capacity for evaluation.
You can use the search field and filtering on this page to find resources that you are interested in or you can browse our extensive list. An alternative way to find resources best suited to your needs is to explore the Rainbow Framework, where you can find resources relating to evaluation methods, approaches and tasks.
Introduction to mixed methods in impact evaluation
This guide, written by Michael Bamberger for InterAction outlines the elements of a mixed methods approach with particular reference to how it can be used in an impact evaluation.Quasi-experimental methods for impact evaluations
This video lecture, given by Dr Jyotsna Puri for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), demonstrates how the use of quasi-experimental methods can circumvent the challenge of creatingIntroduction to randomized control trials
This video lecture given by Dr Annette Brown for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) describes how to create a valid counterfactual using randomized control trials (RCT).Systematic reviews
This video lecture given by Dr Philip Davies for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) provides guidance for using a comprehensive systematic review to present the balance of researchPractical tips on how to strengthen national evaluation systems
This report from the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) is designed to support staff by providing strategies and tips for strengthening national evaluation capacity development systems.The group savings resource book - A practical guide to help groups mobilize and manage their savings
This book, written by Ji-Yeune Rim & John Rouse for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides detailed guidance on setting up group savings plans.Designing participatory meetings and brownbags: A TOPS quick guide to linking development practitioners
This short guide by the Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program and USAID focuses on identifying appropriate formats and approaches for presentations, group discussions and problem solving sessions to enhance peer-to-pePurposes of evaluation
This tool from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) provides an overview of the most frequent reasons for undertaking programme evaluations.Ethical approaches to gathering information from children and adolescents in international settings
This resource provides guidance regarding some basic ethical principles for gathering data from children and adolescents.Case study
This web page from EuropeAid provides a detailed overview of case studies including why, when and how they are used and how they are carried out.CEDIL Methods Brief - Using big data for impact evaluations
This paper provides detailed guidance on using big data to fill data gaps in impact evaluations.Participatory impact assessment: A design guide
This guide, written by Andy Catley, John Burns, Dawit Abebe, and Omeno Suji for Tufts' Feinstein International Center, provides a framework for practitioners to design and implement a Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA).Surveys in social research
This sixth edition of Surveys In Social Research by David de Vaus provides detailed guidance and advice on planning, conducting and analysing social surveys and emphasises the links between theory and research, the logic and interpretationAre you writing an evaluation report?
This South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU) paper describes the process for writing evaluation reports in the format of a template that can be adapted for use in any program context.Addressing attribution through contribution analysis: Using performance measures sensibly
This article from the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation outlines the key steps involved with using contribution analysis as a tool to discover the contribution a program has made to particular outcomes.Baseline basics
Baseline Basics is a short introduction to conducting a baseline study, focusing on the key concepts and practices, and pointing to additional resources for more detail.Mentoring made easy
This guide from the NSW Premier's Office outlines the process and advantages of setting up a formal mentoring program in the workplace.Mentoring for the new millennium
This article outlines the rationale behind mentoring and argues that developing a formal mentoring program will lead to the development of a learning organisation.W.K. Kellogg Foundation logic model guide
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Guide shows how to develop a results chain model.W.K. Kellogg Foundation evaluation handbook
This handbook provides guidance for conducting and managing evaluations, including a conceptual framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool.Using Excel for qualitative data analysis
This article, written by Susan Eliot for The Listening Resource, provides step-by-step guidance on using Excel as a tool to support the analysis of qualitative data for research or evaluation purposes.Coding part 2: Thematic coding
This video tutorial from Graham H Gibbs (2010) provides an overview of thematic coding and examples to demostrate how it is done and how codes can be applied to the data.The engagement toolkit
This toolkit offers an extensive but not exhaustive list of engagement methods that can be applied throughout different stages of the evaluation process.Indigenous evaluation framework: Telling our story in our place and time
This book discusses the efforts of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities to reclaim and revitalize their education systems through tribally controlled colleges, universities, and K–12 schools.8 word cloud makers for teachers
This web page provides a number of suggestions for using word clouds and also provides links to 8 free Word Cloud makers.Poverty mapping: Innovative approaches to creating poverty maps with new data sources
This guide provides an overview of the use of both traditional and novel data sources in generating poverty maps and the related methodological implications.Designing and conducting health systems research projects: Sampling
Module 11 of a course book by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), outlines the process involved in applying different sampling techniques in research.The prose and cons of poetic representation in evaluation reporting
"[T]his article… make[s] a case for and demonstrate[s] the use of poetic transcription as one form of presenting evaluation findings." (MacNeil, 2000 p. 359)Web-based surveys
This website from the Journal of Extension (JOE) provides a guide to the purpose and use of web-based surveys.Monitoring government policies: A toolkit for civil society organisations in Africa
This toolkit from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid, and Trócaire aims to provide the tools necessary to gather evidence about government policies and press for change.Measuring while you manage: Planning, monitoring and evaluating knowledge networks
This paper form the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a detailed description of the process for monitoring and evaluation of knowledge networks.An introduction to data mining
This webpage, produced by Kurt Thearling, provides an extensive overview of data mining and its applications. The page includes specific examples and links to a tutorial and research papers on data mining.