One of the country’s top research hubs for evaluating complex policies has published a new toolkit that could help government officials judge the effectiveness of their work.
CPD Courses
CECAN Webinar: The Practice of Blue Marble Evaluation
The great acceleration of human activities over the past 10, 50, 100 years has changed the very nature of life support for all species who live together on this big “blue marble” we call planet Earth.
CECAN Webinar: Developing Systems Approaches in the Water Sector
Tuesday 21st September 2021, 13:00 – 14:00 BST Presenter: Brendan Bromwich, Principal Engineer, Asset Management and Investment Planning, Mott MacDonald Webinar Overview: There is a consistent appeal for a systems approach to be applied to water and environmental...
Evaluation as a Pathway to Transformation for a Sustainable Future
In June 2021, the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021 (SRI2021) held a series of online workshops as part of its “Transformations Conference 2021: Enabling Positive Tipping Points”. This post shares the learning from one workshop, “Evaluation as a Pathway to Transformation for a Sustainable Future.”
CECAN Webinar: Case-Based Modelling and Scenario Simulation for Ex-Post Evaluation
This seminar introduces case-based scenario simulation (CBSS) to evaluators. CBSS is well aligned with existing evaluation approaches, most directly realist evaluation which emphasizes ‘what works for whom in which circumstances’.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation: Training and Support
Our new CECAN training and support series ‘Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation’ will provide you with knowledge and practical advice to allow you to deal with complexity in policy analysis and evaluation.
The Participatory System Mapper, PRSM
CECAN has been developing a new app, called PRSM, which runs in a web browser and which helps groups of people collaboratively develop networks or ‘maps’ of policy and other systems online.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation
This workshop will focus on material presented in the first two chapters of the Supplementary Guide, which describes key features of complex systems and the challenges these present both to policy makers, and to those planning, commissioning and undertaking evaluation of policy interventions.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Two – Commissioning and Managing a Complex Evaluation
This workshop will focus on material presented in chapter three of Supplementary Guide to explore the particular challenges complexity presents to the management and commissioning of a policy evaluation.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
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.
CECAN Webinar: Participatory Systems Mapping for Policy Evaluation
On 31st March 2021, Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Alexandra Penn hosted our CECAN Webinar: ‘Participatory Systems Mapping for Policy Evaluation’.
CECAN PhD Student, Betheney Wills, is awarded her doctorate and secures a position at Defra (Marine and Fisheries)
Betheney was awarded a PhD in November 2020 following a viva in which her thesis was approved without corrections.
CECAN Ltd CPD Course: An Introduction to Influence Mapping in Evaluation (Sold Out)
This 1-day course (split across two consecutive half-days) introduces participants to influence mapping, within the context of evaluation or as a general introduction.
CECAN Special Issue of the Journal ‘Evaluation’: Policy Evaluation for a Complex World
CECAN recently guest edited a special issue of the leading evaluation journal ‘Evaluation’. The issue, written by members of CECAN and some of its collaborators, aims to bring together a set of ideas and methods for handling complexity in evaluation based on extensive practical experience in addressing these issues, from a research perspective, in UK central government evaluation.
CECAN Webinar: The difference between Adrenaline and Core Strength – Investing in Resilience as an Organisational Capability
In our webinar, we will share key insights and have a rich discussion about what resilience really means, with a focus on practical elements.
CECAN Ltd CPD Course: Agent-Based Modelling for Policy Analysis
This 1-day course introduces participants to the basics of agent-based modelling and how it can be used in policy analysis and evaluation.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Process Tracing Introductory Course
Process Tracing is a method used to understand causal chains in single case analysis settings. It is the systematic analysis of contribution claims through explicit investigation of how pieces of evidence support or undermine a particular hypothesis or claim.
Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods – A Tool for Assessment and Selection (Version Two)
Dr Barbara Befani, CECAN Research Fellow, has expanded and partially redeveloped the CAEM tool originally published by BOND to include, amongst else, more complexity-appropriate methodologies.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
This course is an introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). QCA is a method for the comparative study of cases and is used to analyse qualitative social data systematically.
CECAN Webinar: A Systems Approach to Environmental Policy in Defra
The need to take a whole-systems approach to policy to avoid unanticipated outcomes and burden shifting across sectors is now widely recognised.
CECAN Webinar: Participatory Systems Mapping for Policy Evaluation
In this webinar, Pete and Alex will present their recent paper in Evaluation on the role ‘Participatory Systems Mapping’ can play in policy evaluation.
CECAN Webinar: Capturing Social Dynamics for Evaluation: Trajectory-Based Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Research methods usually struggle with the complexity of social processes, such as policy processes, and how they play out over time.
CECAN Webinar: Diagnostic Evaluation with Simulated Probabilities
In this webinar, Barbara and Corinna will present their recent paper in Evaluation on ‘Diagnostic Evaluation with Simulated Probabilities’.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Process Tracing Introductory Course
Process Tracing is a method used to understand causal chains in single case analysis settings. It is the systematic analysis of contribution claims through explicit investigation of how pieces of evidence support or undermine a particular hypothesis or claim.
Exploring the Intersection Between Local Governance and the Natural Capital Approach in the Marine Pioneer (Summary Report)
Written by our CECAN PhD Researcher, Betheney Wills, this report details the main findings from her research on the Marine Pioneer, a government pilot programme which tested key principles from the 25-Year Environment Plan.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Bayesian Updating (Diagnostic Theory-Based Evaluation)
This course covers the theory and practice of diagnostic evaluation and Bayesian Updating. It addresses its epistemological and mathematical basis, its appropriateness and strengths/weaknesses in comparison with other methods, and its application steps.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
This course is an introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). QCA is a method for the comparative study of cases and is used to analyse qualitative social data systematically.
CECAN Webinar: Trophic Analysis of Directed Networks
On 22nd September 2020, Professor Robert MacKay, hosted our CECAN Webinar: Trophic Analysis of Directed Networks.
CECAN Webinar: How can System Dynamics Support Policy Evaluation?
System Dynamics is a mature, model-based policy design and evaluation method which has been used to harness the power of complexity on a wide range of policy issues, both in the UK and elsewhere, over the past 60 years.
Helping Health Services Plan for Covid-19
Between March and July 2020 Brian Castellani and Pete Barbrook-Johnson became part of the COVID-19 Community Health and Social Care Modelling Team at Durham University.