Evaluation and Research

What is program monitoring?

Program monitoring involves the collection of information to determine if a program is fulfilling its goals. It generally requires performance measures, i.e. standards or requirements related to project activities, services delivered and their results.

Monitoring provides ongoing information on program goals, activities and results so that we can assess whether service agencies are doing what is required by funders or meeting their organization's mission.

What is evaluation?

Evaluation is a systematic process to assess the extent to which a program has achieved its intended results. This includes assessment of program activities (process evaluation) and what has changed as the result of the program for individuals, families, organizations or communities (outcome evaluation).

A well executed evaluation can identify areas where a program can improve its operation. Sharing evaluation results with program staff and community stakeholders can help them address local problems or issues.

What is research?

Applied research involves a rigorous and systematic approach to test questions of interest (i.e., hypotheses). Research and evaluation can be fairly similar, but research tends to be more rigorous. They each, though, reflect commitments to collect valid and reliable data to address questions about health and human service clients, the services provided to them and whether these activities affected program outcomes.

Program monitoring, evaluation and research can all play a role in establishing new facts, solving problems, and developing theories that can advance the health and welfare of individuals and communities.

Who do we do evaluation, research and performance monitoring with?

We generally work with community health and human service agencies.