Here are the three new additions:
Alexey [...]]]> Thanks in part to a recent mention by Susan Kistler, Eval Central has received some renewed interest. In the past couple of weeks I’ve had three new submissions to the Eval Central Feed and I’ve been noticing a greater number of new posts network wide.

Here are the three new additions:
Alexey Kuzmin’s Evaluation Space
Inter-American Development Bank’s Development That Works
John Gargani’s Eval Blog

If you would l Ike to have your blog added to the network you can submit it here, comment on this post, send me a tweet, use some type of carrier pigeon service, or get in touch in some other way. Interested in receiving daily Eval Central summaries with all the day’s links? Sign up here!

One Solution: URL Variables

URL variables are by no means the only way to pre-populate data but they are one way. The premise is simple, you add data to the end of your survey’s invitation web link [...]]]> Problem: You want to connect what you already know about a respondent to a new web data collection.

One Solution: URL Variables

URL variables are by no means the only way to pre-populate data but they are one way. The premise is simple, you add data to the end of your survey’s invitation web link giving each respondent a unique URL. When a respondent clicks on the special link not only will they go to the survey, they will also find it pre-populated with data.

The most common use of URL variables is to populate an ID variable. But you can use the method to pre-populate all sorts of questions and even pre-populate hidden variables the respondent will never see. The amount of flexibility you have will depend on the survey application you are using.

Also, speaking of blogging. AEA365′s series on Evaluators who blog continues this week.

In my eyes there are two [...]]]> In the past few years I’ve been building myself up as a web-savvy researcher and evaluator.  I’ve learned a lot in the process; there are tons of problems that have simple solutions if you know where to look. But I have yet to leverage that experience into online success.

In my eyes there are two ways to be successful online.  One is to be consistently good, pumping out solid material day after day.   Another is to be occasionally exceptional.  The creme de la creme is to be both.  At best I would say I’m occasionally good.

I hope to change that this year.  My plan is to take what I’ve learned and teach it.  Take the lessons I usually only give when someone comes to me for help and turn them into tutorials.  Create online courses to build up expertise in areas often thought to be too technical.  And offer the occasional webinar to answer the kinds of questions I would not think of on my own.

Will I be successful?  We’ll answer that question next year…