Category Archives: How can evaluation be useful?

Collective Leadership – Exploring new territories for evaluation

I spent time this summer writing about evaluation.  It’s been good to immerse myself in reading and thinking about what complexity and collaboration mean for how we evaluate public programmes and interventions. The focus has been Workforce Scotland’s Collective Leadership … Continue reading

Posted in 5th generation evaluation, Appreciative inquiry, Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Leadership, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Partnership working, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Collective Leadership – Exploring new territories for evaluation

What can we do with our stories? Reflections from the Faroes

In my efforts to refresh my social theory and develop new perspectives on evaluation I recently attended a social constructivism conference on Communication, Collaboration and Relationships in the Faroe Islands[1].  I’d be alerted to this opportunity by one of the … Continue reading

Posted in 5th generation evaluation, Appreciative inquiry, Courses and events, How can evaluation be useful?, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on What can we do with our stories? Reflections from the Faroes

Where nothing is clear, and everything keeps changing – new territories for evaluation

Greetings from the Faroe Islands.  In my efforts to develop new perspectives on evaluation I’m attending a conference on Communication, Collaboration and Relationships.  This is my annual dose of CPD – like many people from the UK, this is new … Continue reading

Posted in 5th generation evaluation, Appreciative inquiry, Co-production and new ways of working, Courses and events, How can evaluation be useful?, Living systems research, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Where nothing is clear, and everything keeps changing – new territories for evaluation

“The cynicism that passes for sophistication”

I’m not sure when or how I first encountered Appreciative Inquiry.  But I do remember going to an Imagine Chicago conference in 2002 with a group of community activists from Edinburgh.  We had a thoroughly exciting time, meeting appreciative inquirers … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciative inquiry, Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Leadership, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Research Impact, What is action research? | Comments Off on “The cynicism that passes for sophistication”

Reigniting Evaluation – Unfolding Stories

Today about 24 people gathered in Edinburgh to explore what they value about evaluation, as part of the 2018 Fire Starter Festival. Working with our own stories of experience of evaluation at it’s best, we identified what values and qualities … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciative inquiry, Co-production and new ways of working, Courses and events, How can evaluation be useful?, Leadership, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Partnership working, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Reigniting Evaluation – Unfolding Stories

When are you ever not prototyping?

I’m co-hosting an event at the forthcoming Fire Starter Festival.  We want to ignite conversations about learning-in-action to stimulate thinking about how evaluation practices might flourish to promote learning and innovation. We put prototyping in the title as a deliberate … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciative inquiry, Co-production and new ways of working, Courses and events, How can evaluation be useful?, Leadership, Participatory research methods, Partnership working, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on When are you ever not prototyping?

Participative transformation?

I have recently written a book review of Participative transformation learning and development in practising change, by Roger Klev and Morten Levin in the Journal Action Learning:  Research and Practice, 2015 They propose that given the challenges of the uncertainty … Continue reading

Posted in Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Leadership, Partnership working, Research Impact, What is action research? | Comments Off on Participative transformation?

Calling time on ancedotal evidence….

I notice my irritation rising whenever someone refers to ‘anecdotal evidence’. As if people are saying the evidence is merely anecdotal. It’s unreliable and based on hearsay. It doesn’t count for much. And so often, such remarks are made in … Continue reading

Posted in Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Calling time on ancedotal evidence….

Caring conversations in action

Taking time to hear the stories that matter to matter pays off in the long run…it’s just the way we do things round here.   Asking for feedback can feel a bit embarrassing but we find the courage because it’s good … Continue reading

Posted in Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Partnership working, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Caring conversations in action

Research as if people were human

I’m delighted to be a guest blogger for IRISS this week.  This post talks about how stories energise and restore people’s connections with each other and what they care about, so motivating people to work together.  Action research – a truly humane approach to … Continue reading

Posted in Co-production and new ways of working, How can evaluation be useful?, Living systems research, Participatory research methods, Partnership working, Research Impact, Stories, What is action research? | Comments Off on Research as if people were human