Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach

Thursday 23rd September, 10:00 – 16:00, Live Online Training (via Zoom)

Course Details:

This workshop will review material presented in chapter four of the Supplementary Guide, which provides guidance on how to select an appropriate evaluation approach for a complex intervention, reviews some of the different evaluation approaches available and indicates when these are most useful.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

  • Understand the importance of using a complexity-appropriate approach to evaluation
  • Be aware of the breadth and diversity of approaches that can be used in complex settings
  • Be equipped with a set of tools that help identify an appropriate approach or approaches based on the evaluation purpose, the complexity attributes present, and the feasibility of approach for intended use.

Intended Audience:

These workshops are designed to support policy makers, analysts and evaluators at all levels facing complexity challenges in their current work.

Tutor Biography:

This workshop is led by Helen Wilkinson and Martha Bicket.

Helen Wilkinson is a director of Risk Solutions’.  She has over 25 years’ consulting experience delivering assignments supporting policy formulation, development of management systems, and all aspects of evaluation and review. She has worked at senior levels for the UK government, reporting for example directly to ministers in Defra. She leads one of two teams delivering quality assurance of the National Audit Office’s (NAO) value for money (VFM) evaluation reports. Helen, with Martha, is a co-author of the HM Treasury 2020 Magenta Book Supplementary Guide “Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation” and Defra’s complexity evaluation framework.

Martha Bicket is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Surrey and CECAN. Martha works at the interface of research and policy, working closely with senior policy-makers and analysts across local, national and international levels of government towards the goal of better-informed decision-making and policy. In her work with CECAN, Martha has collaborated with academics, practitioners and UK Government departments and agencies such as the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to advance policy evaluation that is fit for a complex world. Martha is a co-author of the HM Treasury 2020 Magenta Book Supplementary Guide “Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation”.

Course Fees:

Tickets for this workshop are £250 per person. However, if you would like to book this course alongside the other two modules, a 10% discount will be applied. Those who attend all three workshops will also be able to attend two ‘Complexity Challenge Drop In Surgeries’ free of charge.

How to Book:

Reserve your place by registering and paying via our Online Store. Click here to book this course only, or click here to book all three courses and receive a 10% discount. Payment can be made by credit/debit card or by requesting an invoice.

If you have any questions, please contact CECAN by emailing cecan@surrey.ac.uk

 

 

Preparation of the Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation training and support series has been partially supported by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)