By Brian Castellani, Professor of Sociology (University of Durham).
What We’re Doing
BOOK LAUNCH: Systems Mapping: how to build and use causal models of systems by Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Alexandra Penn
On 27th September, a virtual book launch was held for the new open access book on systems mapping by CECAN members Dr Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Dr Alexandra Penn.
It’s time for the UK government to embrace systems mapping
By Pete Barbrook-Johnson, co-author of Systems Mapping: How to build and use causal models of systems (Palgrave, 2022)
BOOK LAUNCH: Systems Mapping: how to build and use causal models of systems by Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Alexandra Penn
Please join us for this virtual book launch for the new open access book (i.e. free PDF available) on systems mapping by CECAN members Dr Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Dr Alexandra Penn.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Process Tracing
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: Cynefin – Navigating Uncertainty
This presentation will outline a new process for mapping strategic opportunities based on the guide, along with the core steps needed to build a future-fit organisations.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Two – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Two – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Commissioning and Managing a Complex Evaluation
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Commissioning and Managing a Complex Evaluation
CECAN Webinar: An update of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions
On 15th June 2022, Kathryn Skivington & Laurence Moore (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow) hosted a CECAN webinar.
CECAN Webinar: Inequality in a Context of Climate Crisis After COVID – the Role of Applied Social Science
On 24th May 2022, David Byrne (Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Applied Social Science, University of Durham) hosted a CECAN webinar.
Pluralistic evaluation framework published in Ecological Economics
Last month saw the publication of our paper outlining a new tool for evaluating policies and projects. This tool has been under development since my fellowship with CECAN in 2017-18, and its publication in the journal Ecological Economics is a milestone for our team.
CECAN Webinar: Evaluating government spending: Findings and recommendations from the latest National Audit Office report
On 15th March 2022, Phil Bradburn (National Audit Office) hosted a CECAN webinar.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation
This first workshop focuses 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 second workshop of the series will focus on material presented in chapter three of the Supplementary Guide and explore the particular challenges complexity presents to the management and commissioning of evaluation.
CECAN Webinar: Evaluating government spending: Findings and recommendations from the latest National Audit Office report
At the National Audit Office (NAO), we believe good evaluation is key to helping government to learn whether its interventions are working and to demonstrate accountability for the use of public money.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
This third workshop reviews 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.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Process Tracing
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: Inequality in a Context of Climate Crisis After COVID – the Role of Applied Social Science
Widely acknowledged as the key driver of political discontent and social instability, economic inequality across high and middle-income countries is profoundly interconnected with climate change. Both of these issues are now set within the particularly acute context of COVID-19 and its aftermath.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation (Sold Out!)
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module One – Complexity and its Challenges for Policy and Evaluation
CECAN Webinar: An update of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions
In this webinar Kathryn and Laurence will present their recent paper in BMJ, which updated a 2008 Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions.
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Two – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Two – Selecting an Appropriate Evaluation Approach
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Commissioning and Managing a Complex Evaluation
Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation Online Workshop: Module Three – Commissioning and Managing a Complex Evaluation
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. The analysis compares cases by assigning set memberships across a set of attributes.
CECAN Webinar: Redefining Evaluation to Support System Change: Theoretical and Practical Insights
On 9th December 2021, Emily Gates (Assistant Professor of Evaluation in the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment Department at Boston College) hosted a CECAN webinar.
What would a complexity-appropriate evaluation framework for England’s action on nature over the next 10 years look like?
This blog provides a discussion of the potential role for evaluation in supporting and assessing progress on action for nature and biodiversity.
CECAN Webinar: Redefining Evaluation to Support System Change: Theoretical and Practical Insights
What role should evaluation play in systems change and transformation? How must we rethink evaluation itself to adapt to this role? Emily Gates, assistant professor at Boston College, will share her thoughts on these questions grounded in theoretical scholarship and a case study.
UKES / CECAN Online Masterclass – Discourse Analysis: Exploring the Potential for Use in Evaluation
There is much that can be learned from analysing discourse (‘the written and spoken word’). Rigorously applied discourse analysis can reveal, for example, assumptions embedded in legislation, policy and strategy as well as the uptake of these by different actors, including the public.
CECAN Webinar: Developing Systems Approaches in the Water Sector
On 21st September 2021, Brendan Bromwich (Principal Engineer, Asset Management and Investment Planning, Mott MacDonald) hosted a CECAN webinar.
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. The analysis compares cases by assigning set memberships across a set of attributes.