This post was written for, and originally appeared, on AEA365. Hello my fellow evaluators. My name is Chris Lysy, and I am a freelance evaluator, designer, and trainer based in Cary, North Carolina. My consulting work involves helping organizations deal with the virtual shift (shifting programs from the “real world” to the “virtual world”). Over the […]
UX Evaluation: How to Evaluate Dashboards, Reports, and Data Visualization
Is your data dashboard useful? How do you know? Most of the time it’s a question that gets left unanswered. As if the dashboard getting created is enough, and whether or not it works is really not that important. Perhaps it’s the data idealist in me, but I think we can do better. TLDR: I […]
How to create a basic logic model [activity book]
Working with a group to create a logic model? I created a little activity book to help you on your way. Prerequisite (Before you Download) This activity book assumes that you are trying to take action and do something. Or that you’ve already taken action. If you haven’t, you’ll have to imagine yourself taking action […]
What is the difference between a Histogram and a Bar Graph?
If you want to be taken seriously as a data professional, there are some things that you just need to know. The difference between a Bar Chart and a Histogram is one of those things. This post is a little cartoon illustrated explanation of the differences. In short: the difference between a Bar Graph and […]
Evaluation Blogging
Dear Evaluator, I think you should blog. Partially for selfish reasons. The social world is undergoing fundamental changes that will shape our collective future. As an evaluator you are positioned to observe those changes first hand. And I want to hear what you have to say. We all have unique perspectives and backgrounds, but it’s harder […]
Evaluation Subcontracting Business Model
Have you ever noticed how the large well-known consulting firms seem to consistently get the biggest contracts. How is a small business even supposed to compete? Maybe you’re not. But if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. In this post: Why the big companies tend to get the big contracts. The subcontracting business model. What […]
The Hotel Bar of Evaluation Communities
The last few weeks…a recap. Launched a new evaluation networking group (Awkward Evaluation Networking). Had our first virtual get together (went well, looking forward to the next one). Planned the second virtual get together (today, Wednesday, June 9 at 3PM). This afternoon at 3 we’ll have our second Awkward Evaluation Networking webinar. George Mount of […]
Evaluation People
What makes a person an evaluator? Is it the job they do? Is it the training they received in grad school? Is it through membership in a big professional association like AEA? Is it because they’ve taken enough courses and paid enough money to get a certificate from somewhere like the Evaluators’ Institute? Did they […]
Awkward Evaluation Networking
Our new evaluation networking series is live! Skip down the page for more info. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but COVID has done a number on our networking events. Yes, we’ve been having virtual replacement events. But many of those are in the form of traditional webinars. There is a speaker who gives a talk, […]
Rejecting the Null
Today’s graphic novella is inspired by the concept of rejecting the null. I created a cartoon about the null hypothesis almost a decade ago. I still find the concept really useful in thinking about evaluation. There is incredible power and importance in the choice that gets made when we don’t choose to change. So that’s […]
Schrodinger’s Outcome
Today’s post is a little evaluation graphic novella inspired by Schrödinger’s cat. No cats, real or fictional, were harmed while creating this post. I’ll drop a plain text version at the bottom. Plain Text Version Schrodinger’s Outcome Imagine a nonprofit program. Let’s say a food pantry. The food pantry was created to provide free emergency […]
What are Social Objects? [Behind the Cartoon Podcast]
So I decided to try out podcasting. Today’s first ever episode is about Social Objects. Why? Because it basically covers the theory behind my cartooning. Show Notes: Just in case the embed above is not working, you can find the podcast by clicking here. Social Objects: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know! (2007 blog post […]