T O O L S T O U S E To assist you in setting project aims for: the process – from the perspective of participants; the project and the community; the impact – from the perspective of participants; the project and the community and the outcome – from the perspective of participants; the project and the community. refer to Sample tool 1.1: Setting project aims. C H E C K L I S T : Ha ve you: defined aims and objectives for the project? D considered aims and objectives for participants; the project / organisation and the D local community? considered the process; the impact and the outcomes? D
outcome Working through this process, you will identify the key themes and findings of the research. It is useful to do this as a group, or with someone else. You will find that you need to discuss and think through some of the issues, to really get to the core information. It is worth talking about your interpretations together, and testing each other’s thinking. Beware of issues such as: jumping to conclusions without supporting evidence not wanting to include or identify negative findings not wanting to include or identify mediocre findings Once you have worked through and analysed the data, it is worth summarising this to a set of key findings. Develop this as a draft to use for discussions – for example, with the evaluation committee if there is one; managers; participants; partnership organisations and so on. Building in a step in the process about discussion of key findings provides a valuable opportunity for further refinement of your thinking and presentation of the data. T O O L S T O U S E To assist in analysing the data, return to the evaluation indicators. Work through the questions in the example above, to ask yourself what evidence you collected. Remember, you will only need to use the evaluation indicators appropriate to the particular evaluation. Sample tools 3.2 – 3.4: Sample evaluation indicators 5.1: Analysing evaluation data template C H E C K L I S T : Ha ve you: collated the data you collected into manageable and logical chunks? D checked the data against the evaluation indicators? D discussed the data with some relevant people? D developed draft key findings? D presented or discussed the key findings with appropriate people? D
S A M P L E T O O L 3 . 4 : SAMPLE EVALUATION INDICATORS OF SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR: PART ICIP ANT S PROJECT / ORGANIS AT ION COMMUN IT Y minimum level of success participants confidence and self esteem has been raised as a result of the project participants learnt new things about themselves as a result of the project the project was consistent with the organisation’ s long term strategic aims the project contributed positively to partnerships the project contributed to long term benefits for the community reasonably successful long term friendships and networks developed as a result of the project knowledge and skills improved or increased as a result of the project the project contributed to long term benefits for the organi sation (e.g. opened new areas of funding opportunities; revenue raising; increased profile in the community, sector etc) the project contributed to long term benefits for the partnership • the project provided opportunities for long term benefits ideal / extremely successful or skills which to be used were as a result of the significant talents or skills which continue to be used were developed as a result of the project participants identified and/or pursued a career or li fe pathway as a result of the project participant / s are able to make significant contributions to the artistic field as a result of their involvement in the project the quality of participants skills are recogni sed by significant members of the artistic community the project contributed significantly to the strategic aims of the organisation the project contributed significantly to the organi sation’s capacity to produce new work the project established / developed / enhanced the reputation of the organi sation the project contributed significantly to the evolution of the partnership • the community gained long term positive benefits as a result of the project