Evaluating research brokers and intermediaries What is success? And how do we measure it? Anna Downie Information Department, Institute of Development Studies, UK Power of In-Between Conference, South Africa (July 2008)

Evaluation: why? Research brokers and intermediaries are more than just a by-product of research Accountability: Like all programmes which receive aid money we need to show what difference we make Most importantly, to learn and improve

Research brokers and intermediaries are more than just a by-product of research

Accountability: Like all programmes which receive aid money we need to show what difference we make

Most importantly, to learn and improve

Introductions What challenges do you face in evaluation in this area?

Research communication evaluation is challenging … Information, communication, knowledge, learning, change are all difficult concepts to understand and evaluate Decision making or policy making are complex processes to disentangle Research communications evaluation: single pieces of research, or a specific policy process “ Although there is little consensus on what research ‘use’ refers to exactly, there seems to be broad agreement on the fact that research evidence rarely has a direct impact on decision making” (Schryer-Roy 2005)

Information, communication, knowledge, learning, change are all difficult concepts to understand and evaluate

Decision making or policy making are complex processes to disentangle

Research communications evaluation: single pieces of research, or a specific policy process

“ Although there is little consensus on what research ‘use’ refers to exactly, there seems to be broad agreement on the fact that research evidence rarely has a direct impact on decision making” (Schryer-Roy 2005)

… But evaluating research brokers and intermediaries is even more challenging! Intermediaries are involved with variety of research in multiple processes Not advocating for a single piece of research or a single process Trying to change use of information and the policy environment?

Intermediaries are involved with variety of research in multiple processes

Not advocating for a single piece of research or a single process

Trying to change use of information and the policy environment?

Challenges M&E needs to be tailored Different drivers for intermediaries so different concepts of outcomes Often set up from ‘supply’ side; but we want to evaluate whether it meets a need/demand We address multiple problems, therefore we have multiple outcomes

M&E needs to be tailored

Different drivers for intermediaries so different concepts of outcomes

Often set up from ‘supply’ side; but we want to evaluate whether it meets a need/demand

We address multiple problems, therefore we have multiple outcomes

IDS Knowledge Services external evaluation Key evaluation recommendations Outcomes: Make clear what ‘use’ of information means Pathways: Make explicit our theory of change Targeting: Identify more specific groups of target users Methods: Don’t just focus on collecting ‘success’ stories

Outcomes: Make clear what ‘use’ of information means

Pathways: Make explicit our theory of change

Targeting: Identify more specific groups of target users

Methods: Don’t just focus on collecting ‘success’ stories

What is success? For different stakeholders: What outcomes are we looking for? Are they measurable? What are indicators of success?

For different stakeholders:

What outcomes are we looking for? Are they measurable?

What are indicators of success?

Knowledge dissemination Knowledge building Sharing ideas To provide wider access to the knowledge base of resources relevant to tackling poverty and injustice Information access The results of research is more widely used Increased access to and engagement with research findings Supporting and enabling evidence based pro poor policy and practice To seek solutions to knowledge and communications challenges Enhance the communication and use of evidence-based development research Awareness and improved understanding among policymakers Improved links and relationships between researchers, practitioners and policy makers Bridge the gap between ideas and policy Bridging the gaps between research, policy and practice with accessible and diverse information Changing communication patterns Increased debate about research findings

What do we mean by use of research ? Information Knowledge Learning Action / Decisions Awareness Access Development outcomes?

How is research used? To change what people do (behaviours, policies) To change how people think (different debates, different voices) To change how people feel

To change what people do (behaviours, policies)

To change how people think (different debates, different voices)

To change how people feel

Mapping out pathways Can help you prioritise and plan Makes explicit your assumptions and values Allows you to compare your ‘ideal’ with reality and helps you to evaluate Needs to be simple enough for everyone to understand, but meaningful enough to be able to test it

Can help you prioritise and plan

Makes explicit your assumptions and values

Allows you to compare your ‘ideal’ with reality and helps you to evaluate

Needs to be simple enough for everyone to understand, but meaningful enough to be able to test it

Mapping out pathways Logframes (logical frameworks) Outcome mapping Social network analysis Theory of change

Logframes (logical frameworks)

Outcome mapping

Social network analysis

Theory of change

Outputs Access and debate Understanding and influence Action Goal Vision The things which IDS Knowledge Services will produce Desire and capacity to use information Access to relevant, diverse and credible information Sharing, discussion and debate An enabling environment for intermediaries More understanding of poverty and injustice Increased capacity to build the understanding of others Increased capacity to influence the behaviours and actions of others Changing or supporting a development intervention Framings of issues and new agendas Spaces to negotiate power relations Wider awareness of development issues and public debate Information contributes to more enabling development processes and interventions which are poor-poor, inclusive and equitable A world in which poverty does not exist, social justice prevails and the voices of all the people are heard in national and international institutions

Desire and capacity to use information

Access to relevant, diverse and credible information

Sharing, discussion and debate

An enabling environment for intermediaries

More understanding of poverty and injustice

Increased capacity to build the understanding of others

Increased capacity to influence the behaviours and actions of others

Changing or supporting a development intervention

Framings of issues and new agendas

Spaces to negotiate power relations

Wider awareness of development issues and public debate

Information contributes to more enabling development processes and interventions which are poor-poor, inclusive and equitable

A world in which poverty does not exist, social justice prevails and the voices of all the people are heard in national and international institutions

Identifying target groups and building relationships with stakeholders Who are our target groups? Policy makers and practitioners? (who are they?!) Whoever uses us? Or can we be more specific? Developing relationships with stakeholders Requires energy and commitment Who do we prioritise?

Who are our target groups?

Policy makers and practitioners? (who are they?!)

Whoever uses us?

Or can we be more specific?

Developing relationships with stakeholders

Requires energy and commitment

Who do we prioritise?

A few evaluation methods Things we’ve tried: Web statistics Usability testing Questionnaires Interviews and case studies Research into information and communication Advisory groups and editorial panels Things we’d like to do: Counterfactuals (comparison with non-users) Tracker studies Network analysis Follow-up studies Benchmarking??? Readers panels Most significant change approach

Things we’ve tried:

Web statistics

Usability testing

Questionnaires

Interviews and case studies

Research into information and communication

Advisory groups and editorial panels

Things we’d like to do:

Counterfactuals (comparison with non-users)

Tracker studies

Network analysis

Follow-up studies

Benchmarking???

Readers panels

Most significant change approach

What evaluation methods do you use? What do you find easy to measure/evaluate? What do you find harder to measure/evaluate? What does success mean to you?

Final thoughts Expect the unexpected Building relationships with users Evaluation is challenging- but worth it! Aim to learn and improve: Be questioning, inquisitive and reflective

Expect the unexpected

Building relationships with users

Evaluation is challenging- but worth it!

Aim to learn and improve: Be questioning, inquisitive and reflective

Thanks!