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.
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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.
CECAN Webinar: A Systems Approach to Environmental Policy in Defra
On 24th November 2020, Tom Oliver (University of Reading) hosted a CECAN webinar.
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.
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.
CECAN Webinar: Trophic Analysis of Directed Networks
Directed networks are used in many domains. Particularly relevant examples to evaluation and appraisal are systems maps and influence maps. Trophic analysis indicates how far up or downstream each node is and computes a quantity called trophic incoherence, but perhaps better called circularity, which indicates the extent to which the network fails to line up with each node feeding to nodes at the next level.
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: Systems Approaches to Water Management and Infrastructure Planning for Zero-Pollution Targets
At a time of system shocks, significant underlying challenges have been revealed in current approaches to delivering infrastructure, including the need for holistic assessment and that infrastructure users in many societies feel distant from nature. In this seminar, I will present methods for integrated land use planning and sustainable water management.
CECAN Ltd CPD Course: An Introduction to Influence Mapping in Evaluation
This 1-day course introduces participants to influence mapping, within the context of evaluation or as a general introduction.
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.