1. The document proposes a framework for evaluating the impact of participatory science projects. The framework includes 5 key dimensions: increased knowledge/awareness, changed behavior/practice, dissemination of new knowledge, changes to policy/planning, and physical system improvements.
2. It applies this framework to evaluate a case study where Bayesian networks were co-developed with stakeholders to help set targets in a natural resource management plan. The evaluation found the framework provided structure but highlighted difficulties in retrospective impact assessments with limited resources.
3. Ideally, impact evaluation criteria should be established prior to a project and properly resourced. The proposed framework provides an intermediate approach between simplistic and too complex evaluations to help researchers consider the breadth
Impact evaluations aim to predict the future, but they are rooted in particular contexts and to what extent they generalize is an open and important question. I founded an organization to systematically collect and synthesize impact evaluation results on a wide variety of interventions in development. These data allow me to answer this and other questions for the rst time using a large data set of studies. I consider several measures of generalizability, discuss the strengths and limitations of each metric, and provide benchmarks based on the data. I use the example of the eect of conditional cash transfers on enrollment rates to show how some of the heterogeneity can be modelled and the eect this can have on the generalizability measures. The predictive power of the model improves over time as more studies are completed. Finally, I show how researchers can
estimate the generalizability of their own study using their own data, even when data from no comparable studies exist.
Read more at: www.hhs.se/site
This document discusses complexity in projects and how planning strategies can address uncertainty arising from complexity. It develops a classification of project complexity based on theoretical insights about complexity. It identifies strategies used in project planning to address complexity-related uncertainties, such as knowledge production processes and organizational forms. The document theorizes how these strategies interact with complexity factors to impact project performance, and tests these relationships using survey data from 81 complex projects. The results indicate that complexity does not have a straightforward influence on performance, and that some planning strategies can interact with complexity factors to positively impact project completion, innovation, and operational performance when matched to the specific complexities.
A Laboratory Method For Studying Activity AwarenessDawn Cook
The document describes a laboratory method for studying activity awareness in collaborative work. The method involves:
1. Modeling collaborative scenarios based on situations observed in a prior field study of student collaboration. This improves ecological validity.
2. Using a confederate (research assistant) to introduce planned changes or problems into the collaboration. This allows systematic manipulation of variables.
3. Having participants complete multiple collaborative sessions over time with the confederate. This simulates long-term collaborative projects.
The method was tested with student participants collaborating remotely on a project. Results provided evidence the method represents a valid way to study activity awareness and other collaboration phenomena in a controlled laboratory setting.
Research paper impact evaluation for collaborative information supply chainKenny Meesters
Emerging technologies provide opportunities for the humanitarian responders’ community to enhance the
effectiveness of their response to crisissituations. A part of this development can be contributed to a new type of
information supply chains -driven by collaboration with digital, online communities- enabling organizations to
make better informed decisions. However, how exactly and to what extend this collaboration impacts the
decision making process is unknown. To improve these new information exchanges and the corresponding
systems, an evaluation method is needed to assess the performance of these processes and systems. This paper
builds on existing evaluation methods for information systems and design principles to propose such an impact
evaluation framework. The proposed framework has been applied in a case study to demonstrate its potential to
identify areas for further improvement in the (online) collaboration between information suppliers and users.
Adding New Dimensions To Case Study Evaluations The Case Of Evaluating Compr...Scott Faria
This document discusses the challenges of evaluating comprehensive reforms using existing evaluation methods. Comprehensive reforms involve coordinated, concurrent actions across multiple domains that are aimed at changing whole systems. Existing evaluation methods may not be suitable for assessing such broad, complex initiatives. The case study method shows promise for integrating diverse evidence from comprehensive reforms, but the breadth and complexity of reforms may stretch the traditional uses of the case study method. New demands are placed on evaluators to develop innovative evaluation techniques for comprehensive reforms.
Towards Decision Support and Goal AchievementIdentifying Ac.docxturveycharlyn
Towards Decision Support and Goal Achievement:
Identifying Action-Outcome Relationships From Social
Media
Emre Kıcıman
Microsoft Research
[email protected]
Matthew Richardson
Microsoft Research
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Every day, people take actions, trying to achieve their per-
sonal, high-order goals. People decide what actions to take
based on their personal experience, knowledge and gut in-
stinct. While this leads to positive outcomes for some peo-
ple, many others do not have the necessary experience, knowl-
edge and instinct to make good decisions. What if, rather
than making decisions based solely on their own personal
experience, people could take advantage of the reported ex-
periences of hundreds of millions of other people?
In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of mining the
relationship between actions and their outcomes from the
aggregated timelines of individuals posting experiential mi-
croblog reports. Our contributions include an architecture
for extracting action-outcome relationships from social me-
dia data, techniques for identifying experiential social media
messages and converting them to event timelines, and an
analysis and evaluation of action-outcome extraction in case
studies.
1. INTRODUCTION
While current structured knowledge bases (e.g., Freebase)
contain a sizeable collection of information about entities,
from celebrities and locations to concepts and common ob-
jects, there is a class of knowledge that has minimal cov-
erage: actions. Simple information about common actions,
such as the effect of eating pasta before running a marathon,
or the consequences of adopting a puppy, are missing. While
some of this information may be found within the free text of
Wikipedia articles, the lack of a structured or semi-structured
representation make it largely unavailable for computational
usage. With computing devices continuing to become more
embedded in our everyday lives, and mediating an increasing
degree of our interactions with both the digital and physical
world, knowledge bases that can enable our computing de-
vices to represent and evaluate actions and their likely out-
comes can help individuals reason about actions and their
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or
classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed
for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation
on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than the
author(s) must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or
republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission
and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]
KDD’15, August 10-13, 2015, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Copyright is held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.
ACM 978-1-4503-3664-2/15/08 ...$15.00.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145 ...
The document describes a study that compared manual and computational thematic analyses of online comments about vaccine hesitancy conducted by teams of public health researchers. The researchers provided one team traditional tools for their analysis and the other team used the Computational Thematic Analysis Toolkit. Both teams independently analyzed the same large dataset of over 600,000 online comments. The researchers then compared the processes and results of the two analyses. They found that while the teams followed different processes, their analyses produced similar overlapping themes. The toolkit enabled researchers without programming skills to conduct computational analysis and facilitated working with large datasets, but also influenced their research process.
Impact evaluations aim to predict the future, but they are rooted in particular contexts and to what extent they generalize is an open and important question. I founded an organization to systematically collect and synthesize impact evaluation results on a wide variety of interventions in development. These data allow me to answer this and other questions for the rst time using a large data set of studies. I consider several measures of generalizability, discuss the strengths and limitations of each metric, and provide benchmarks based on the data. I use the example of the eect of conditional cash transfers on enrollment rates to show how some of the heterogeneity can be modelled and the eect this can have on the generalizability measures. The predictive power of the model improves over time as more studies are completed. Finally, I show how researchers can
estimate the generalizability of their own study using their own data, even when data from no comparable studies exist.
Read more at: www.hhs.se/site
This document discusses complexity in projects and how planning strategies can address uncertainty arising from complexity. It develops a classification of project complexity based on theoretical insights about complexity. It identifies strategies used in project planning to address complexity-related uncertainties, such as knowledge production processes and organizational forms. The document theorizes how these strategies interact with complexity factors to impact project performance, and tests these relationships using survey data from 81 complex projects. The results indicate that complexity does not have a straightforward influence on performance, and that some planning strategies can interact with complexity factors to positively impact project completion, innovation, and operational performance when matched to the specific complexities.
A Laboratory Method For Studying Activity AwarenessDawn Cook
The document describes a laboratory method for studying activity awareness in collaborative work. The method involves:
1. Modeling collaborative scenarios based on situations observed in a prior field study of student collaboration. This improves ecological validity.
2. Using a confederate (research assistant) to introduce planned changes or problems into the collaboration. This allows systematic manipulation of variables.
3. Having participants complete multiple collaborative sessions over time with the confederate. This simulates long-term collaborative projects.
The method was tested with student participants collaborating remotely on a project. Results provided evidence the method represents a valid way to study activity awareness and other collaboration phenomena in a controlled laboratory setting.
Research paper impact evaluation for collaborative information supply chainKenny Meesters
Emerging technologies provide opportunities for the humanitarian responders’ community to enhance the
effectiveness of their response to crisissituations. A part of this development can be contributed to a new type of
information supply chains -driven by collaboration with digital, online communities- enabling organizations to
make better informed decisions. However, how exactly and to what extend this collaboration impacts the
decision making process is unknown. To improve these new information exchanges and the corresponding
systems, an evaluation method is needed to assess the performance of these processes and systems. This paper
builds on existing evaluation methods for information systems and design principles to propose such an impact
evaluation framework. The proposed framework has been applied in a case study to demonstrate its potential to
identify areas for further improvement in the (online) collaboration between information suppliers and users.
Adding New Dimensions To Case Study Evaluations The Case Of Evaluating Compr...Scott Faria
This document discusses the challenges of evaluating comprehensive reforms using existing evaluation methods. Comprehensive reforms involve coordinated, concurrent actions across multiple domains that are aimed at changing whole systems. Existing evaluation methods may not be suitable for assessing such broad, complex initiatives. The case study method shows promise for integrating diverse evidence from comprehensive reforms, but the breadth and complexity of reforms may stretch the traditional uses of the case study method. New demands are placed on evaluators to develop innovative evaluation techniques for comprehensive reforms.
Towards Decision Support and Goal AchievementIdentifying Ac.docxturveycharlyn
Towards Decision Support and Goal Achievement:
Identifying Action-Outcome Relationships From Social
Media
Emre Kıcıman
Microsoft Research
[email protected]
Matthew Richardson
Microsoft Research
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Every day, people take actions, trying to achieve their per-
sonal, high-order goals. People decide what actions to take
based on their personal experience, knowledge and gut in-
stinct. While this leads to positive outcomes for some peo-
ple, many others do not have the necessary experience, knowl-
edge and instinct to make good decisions. What if, rather
than making decisions based solely on their own personal
experience, people could take advantage of the reported ex-
periences of hundreds of millions of other people?
In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of mining the
relationship between actions and their outcomes from the
aggregated timelines of individuals posting experiential mi-
croblog reports. Our contributions include an architecture
for extracting action-outcome relationships from social me-
dia data, techniques for identifying experiential social media
messages and converting them to event timelines, and an
analysis and evaluation of action-outcome extraction in case
studies.
1. INTRODUCTION
While current structured knowledge bases (e.g., Freebase)
contain a sizeable collection of information about entities,
from celebrities and locations to concepts and common ob-
jects, there is a class of knowledge that has minimal cov-
erage: actions. Simple information about common actions,
such as the effect of eating pasta before running a marathon,
or the consequences of adopting a puppy, are missing. While
some of this information may be found within the free text of
Wikipedia articles, the lack of a structured or semi-structured
representation make it largely unavailable for computational
usage. With computing devices continuing to become more
embedded in our everyday lives, and mediating an increasing
degree of our interactions with both the digital and physical
world, knowledge bases that can enable our computing de-
vices to represent and evaluate actions and their likely out-
comes can help individuals reason about actions and their
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or
classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed
for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation
on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than the
author(s) must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or
republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission
and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]
KDD’15, August 10-13, 2015, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Copyright is held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.
ACM 978-1-4503-3664-2/15/08 ...$15.00.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145 ...
The document describes a study that compared manual and computational thematic analyses of online comments about vaccine hesitancy conducted by teams of public health researchers. The researchers provided one team traditional tools for their analysis and the other team used the Computational Thematic Analysis Toolkit. Both teams independently analyzed the same large dataset of over 600,000 online comments. The researchers then compared the processes and results of the two analyses. They found that while the teams followed different processes, their analyses produced similar overlapping themes. The toolkit enabled researchers without programming skills to conduct computational analysis and facilitated working with large datasets, but also influenced their research process.
A Review Article On Quot Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia)Robin Beregovska
(1) The document provides a review of environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA identifies, predicts, and evaluates the environmental effects of proposed projects or activities.
(2) EIA is a tool used in decision making for development projects. It measures the environmental impacts of upcoming projects, including physical and social factors, and provides measures to minimize impacts.
(3) EIA has become a requirement in over 100 countries and is an important tool for deciding whether to approve a project at a particular site based on its environmental impacts. EIA also helps negotiate among developers, public groups, and regulators.
We documented and illustrated the use of a data collection and analysis suite, SenseMaker, that was designed to collect and work with narrative fragments. The approach presented adds a new and inherently mixed tool to the mixed methods toolbox. Despite its novelty and potential utility, little has been written in the academic literature on the application of SenseMaker to complex problems. To the best of our knowledge, the approach has not been used in relation to climate change or climate change adaptation and has not been presented in the mixed methods literature. We sought to contribute to filling this gap through describing the approach used to generate the data that underpin the articles in this special feature. Our purpose was to illustrate some of the potential and most notable challenges of using the SenseMaker data collection and analysis process in a complex domain through examining adaptation to climate change. Our overview was not exhaustive but rather sought to highlight capabilities and challenges through examining experiences of adaptation from a stages of change perspective. SenseMaker provides a remarkably powerful tool for the capture of micronarratives of complex phenomena such as climate change. The capacity to have respondents interpret, i.e., make sense of, their own narratives is an important innovation that provides one plausible solution to the problem of analysts coding narratives.
A virtual environment for formulation of policy packagesAraz Taeihagh
The interdependence and complexity of socio-technical systems and availability of a wide variety of policy measures to address policy problems make the process of policy formulation difficult. In order to formulate sustainable and efficient transport policies, development of new tools and techniques is necessary. One of the approaches gaining ground is policy packaging, which shifts focus from implementation of individual policy measures to implementation of combinations of measures with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of policy interventions by increasing synergies and reducing potential contradictions among policy measures. In this paper, we describe the development of a virtual environment for the exploration and analysis of different configurations of policy measures in order to build policy packages. By developing systematic approaches it is possible to examine more alternatives at a greater depth, decrease the time required for the overall analysis, provide real-time assessment and feedback on the effect of changes in the configurations, and ultimately form more effective policies. The results from this research demonstrate the usefulness of computational approaches in addressing the complexity inherent in the formulation of policy packages. This new approach has been applied to the formulation of policies to advance sustainable transportation.
Addressing Gender Inequality In Science The Multifaceted Challenge Of Assess...Nathan Mathis
This document discusses approaches to assessing the impact of programs aimed at addressing gender inequality in science. It argues that a holistic, multidimensional approach is needed rather than focusing on a single issue. A complex, integrated solution is required as gender inequality stems from many interrelated factors. Assessing impact also needs to be complex to account for these interconnections and the multifaceted nature of the problem. A simple, linear model is insufficient and impact assessment must consider multiple components, contexts, and perspectives.
An Adaptive Learning Process for Developing and Applying Sustainability Indicators with Local Communities
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159`
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Name _____________________Bipedal AustralopithOBJECTIVES.docxroushhsiu
Name: _____________________Bipedal Australopith?
OBJECTIVES
After completing this exercise, you should be able to:
Understand bipedalism
Compare and contrast the feet of several primates to identify bipedal abilities.
INTRODUCTION
Bipedalism is the act of walking on two feet. This can be habitually or for brief periods of time. The ability to walk bipedally in an efficient manner depends on great changes to the structure of the body. One of those changes comes from the foot.
EXERCISE
Anthropologists have argued about the bipedal abilities of our potential ancestors Australopithecus afarensis. Here you will compare your own foot to the foot of an Australopith and a chimpanzee to see where they fall. More human? More ape?
Part A:
Foot Measurements:
Determine whether A. afarensis had feet that more closely resembled modern humans or modern chimpanzees. (Remember that the primitive, or earliest, condition is expected to be more like that of a modern chimpanzee).
·
In this section of the activity, you will take three measurements: the distance between the hallux (big toe)
and the second toe, foot length (the length from the tip of the longest toe to the back of the heel), and foot width (the widest part of the foot usually around the toe area).
Actual size outlines of a chimpanzee foot and from an A. afarensis foot print preserved at Laetoli have
been provided for you.
1. Trace your bare foot on a clean sheet of paper (you can use the back of this lesson).
2. Using digital calipers or a ruler, measure in cm the distances according to the instructions.
Write your results in the space provided on the graph.
3. Calculate the hallux divergence index by dividing the foot width by the foot length.
4. Answer these questions based on your results:
What is bipedalism?
What are the earliest fossil hominins that show bipedalism?
What anatomical features are indicative of bipedalism?
Did Australopiths have a toe more similar to humans or apes? Give your reasoning.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES WITHIN AND ACROSS PROJECTS1
Tracy A. Jenkin and Yolande E. Chan
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University,
Kingston, ON CANADA K7L 3N6 {[email protected]} {[email protected]}
Rajiv Sabherwal
Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, AR 72701 U.S.A. {[email protected]}
Although information systems development (ISD) projects are critical to organizations and improving them has
been the focus of considerable research, successful projects remain elusive. Focusing on the cognitive aspects
of ISD projects, we investigate how and why mutual understanding (MU) among key stakeholder groups
(business and information technology managers, users, and developers) changes within and across projects,
and how it affects project success. We examine relationships among project planning and control mechanisms;
sense ...
This paper reviews research methods used in mobile human-computer interaction (HCI) research. The authors analyzed 102 mobile HCI publications and categorized them based on their research methods and purpose. They found a bias toward building systems and evaluating them in laboratory settings, with little use of field studies, action research, or basic research. This limits the development of cumulative knowledge about mobile HCI design and use. The authors argue more research is needed using methods like field studies and action research to better understand mobile HCI in real-world contexts.
Running head RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, DESIGN AND METHODS 1RESEARC.docxjeanettehully
This document summarizes a research study conducted on Sun Coast Health. The study aimed to evaluate various areas of concern for Sun Coast, including the relationship between particulate matter size and employee health, the effectiveness of safety training, predicting noise levels at job sites, comparing new and previous employee training programs, analyzing changes in lead exposure, and differences in return on investment for different services. The study used quantitative research methods and collected data from over 100 job sites and 1500 contracts. Various statistical analyses were used to analyze the data and test hypotheses related to each research question.
This document discusses process evaluation for implementation science projects. It defines process evaluation as understanding how and why interventions work by examining implementation and change processes. Key aspects of process evaluation include assessing fidelity, dose, reach, adaptations and context. Process evaluation helps explain success or failure of interventions and understand outcome heterogeneity. The document reviews guidelines for process evaluation from the UK Medical Research Council, including clarifying theories of change. It then discusses the PeriKIP project, which aims to improve perinatal health in Vietnam using participatory stakeholder groups, and outlines plans for its process evaluation.
The impact of Science Literacy delivery methods - what works?NIDA-Net
This report summarizes research on the impact of different methods for delivering science literacy. Over 2,000 impact assessment studies from the 1990s onward were reviewed across 7 categories of delivery mechanisms. The research aimed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each mechanism and identify gaps. While most studies were small-scale, digital technologies like online learning and social media have increased science communication and raised questions about their long-term impacts, which require more systematic large-scale research. The report recommends standardizing evaluation tools to help consolidate efforts and further improve science literacy delivery.
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & H.docxchristalgrieg
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013)
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013) were qualitative program evaluation, inductive approach, and holistic approach.
According to the article, Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods indicated that “qualitative methods are commonly used in evaluations in order to explore specific facets of programs and give voice to participants”. The qualitative evaluation methods can provide in-depth information that can assist in enhancing the quality of a specific program (Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods).
According to McDavid & Huse (2013) defined inductive approach, as a method that “starts with ‘the data’ namely narratives, direct and indirect (unobtrusive) observations, interactions between stakeholders and the evaluator, documentary evidence, and other sources of information, and then constructs an understanding of the program” p200.
The Holistic Approach defined by McDavid & Huse (2003) is “discovering the themes in the data, weighting them, verifying them with stakeholders, and finally, preparing a document that reports the findings and conclusions” p200.
In the article, “Measuring Change in a Short-Term Educational Program Using a Retrospective Pretest Design”, centered around the Pennsylvania Governor’s School International Studies having a summer program that gives gifted high school students a challenging introduction to the study of internal affairs. The program administrators wanted to understand the effect of the program on the student’s understanding of their knowledge surrounding the core issues (Moore & Tananis 2009). For the past four years the program administrators began using the retrospective pre-post design. The results from the pretest yielded that the students consistently overestimated their understanding of International Studies in the beginning. The program administrator found that using the “retrospective pretest items were more biases than pretest items in certain context” (Moore & Tannis 2009 p200). The authors concluded that the retrospective pretest perhaps could be the most effective way of capturing data that is accurate of pre intervention function than a pretest given before the program begins.
For this article, this learner would use the inductive approach for this article. This approach will allow the researcher and the program administrators to evaluate the program effectiveness through the data that was collected through the pretest, test that were administered throughout the course, and other data. This approach will allow for interviewing the participants throughout the five week program to determine if the students are learning and meeting the intended goal of the International Studies program. The program administrators can also observe the interactions between the participants.
For this particular study, it would be important to test the students prior to taking the course, and then co ...
This document describes a fuzzy decision support system using a multi-criteria analysis approach to select the best environment-watershed plan. It establishes a hierarchical structure of evaluation criteria and uses fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to determine the weights of criteria based on expert judgments. The study then evaluates plan alternatives using fuzzy multiple criteria decision making (FMCDM) to handle qualitative criteria. An empirical case study demonstrates the synthesis decision process by integrating FAHP and FMCDM for selecting the most appropriate watershed plan.
Applying Experimental Designs To Large-Scale Program Evaluation. Research Pap...Sheila Sinclair
This document discusses the application of an experimental design to evaluate five National Science Foundation comprehensive projects. It describes how the evaluation team made decisions around sampling and data collection for the evaluation, including defining the school as the experimental unit, using a factorial design stratified by subject matter and rural/urban variables, selecting similar geographic control regions, and determining sample sizes despite uncertainty around dependent variables. The goal was to apply an experimental framework to assess the success of the projects in achieving their goal of helping schools improve science and math education, while addressing real-world challenges in implementing such a large-scale evaluation.
The document discusses different types of matrices used in environmental impact assessments to identify interactions between project activities and environmental factors. It describes simple matrices, stepped matrices, and weighted matrices. Simple matrices cross-reference project phases with environmental elements and can use symbols to show impact scale. Stepped matrices consider how activities relate to resources and how one action's impacts can affect other resources. Weighted matrices allow ranking impacts by assigning weights to environmental components and scoring project impacts.
The document discusses a study on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the UK nanotechnology industry. It conducted an online survey of 78 nanotechnology companies on their CSR reporting and conducted 15 interviews with company representatives on their attitudes towards CSR. The study found that the general level of CSR reporting among nanotechnology companies is low, though companies demonstrated awareness of minimizing risks ("do no harm" model of CSR). For CSR to help build adaptive governance of nanotechnology, the study argues serious shortcomings need addressing to move companies closer to seeing CSR as creating positive social value. The conceptual framework examined continuous improvement in CSR and different "modes" of CSR (minimizing risks versus creating social value).
Towards Proactive and Flexible Agent-Based Generation of Policy Packages for ...Araz Taeihagh
One of the approaches gaining ground in policy design is the implementation of combinations of policy measures as policy packages with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the designed policies. In this paper, we describe the recent advancements in the developments of a virtual environment for the exploration and analysis of policy packages. The virtual environment uses an agent-based modelling approach for the generation of different configurations of policy measures in the policy packages. The benefit of using the approach is the proactive and flexible generation of policy packages as the agents can react to the changes that occur and create packages that are more robust. The system allows faster examination of more alternatives, further exploration of the design space, and testing the effects of changes and uncertainties while formulating policies. The results demonstrate the benefit of using agent-based modelling approaches in the design of complex policies.
International Journal ofEnvironmental Researchand Pu.docxnormanibarber20063
International Journal of
Environmental Research
and Public Health
Review
Design of an Air Pollution Monitoring Campaign in
Beijing for Application to Cohort Health Studies
Sverre Vedal 1,2,*, Bin Han 2, Jia Xu 1 ID , Adam Szpiro 3 and Zhipeng Bai 2
1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of
Public Health, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; [email protected]
2 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of
Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100112, China; [email protected] (B.H.); [email protected] (Z.B.)
3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
[email protected]
* Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-206-616-8285
Received: 17 November 2017; Accepted: 12 December 2017; Published: 15 December 2017
Abstract: No cohort studies in China on the health effects of long-term air pollution exposure
have employed exposure estimates at the fine spatial scales desirable for cohort studies with
individual-level health outcome data. Here we assess an array of modern air pollution exposure
estimation approaches for assigning within-city exposure estimates in Beijing for individual pollutants
and pollutant sources to individual members of a cohort. Issues considered in selecting specific
monitoring data or new monitoring campaigns include: needed spatial resolution, exposure
measurement error and its impact on health effect estimates, spatial alignment and compatibility
with the cohort, and feasibility and expense. Sources of existing data largely include administrative
monitoring data, predictions from air dispersion or chemical transport models and remote sensing
(specifically satellite) data. New air monitoring campaigns include additional fixed site monitoring,
snapshot monitoring, passive badge or micro-sensor saturation monitoring and mobile monitoring,
as well as combinations of these. Each of these has relative advantages and disadvantages. It is
concluded that a campaign in Beijing that at least includes a mobile monitoring component, when
coupled with currently available spatio-temporal modeling methods, should be strongly considered.
Such a campaign is economical and capable of providing the desired fine-scale spatial resolution for
pollutants and sources.
Keywords: air pollution; mobile monitoring; exposure estimation; cohort study
1. Introduction
Estimating exposure to air pollution in members of an epidemiological cohort study is central to
assessing associations between air pollution exposure and adverse health effects in these influential
studies. It is notable that such a critical aspect of this research enterprise is also very challenging.
Not only is estimation of air pollution exposure technically and logistically challenging [1,2],
investigators are faced with uncertainty regarding the impacts of exposure measurement error on study
health effect estimates. On the ot.
Megan St. JacquesJul 22, 2021 829 AMEvaluation Types AbramMartino96
Megan St. Jacques
Jul 22, 2021 8:29 AM
Evaluation Types
When completing a program evaluation, evaluators have a few options regarding the design of the evaluation, including the classic experimental design, a quasi-experimental design, and the before-and-after design (Vito & Higgins, 2016). The classic experimental design is used when evaluators compare results of individuals who had the intervention against those that did not have the intervention offered by the program. One of the main strengths of this technique is that the sample is random so there is a wide variety in individuals who will be examined (Vito & Higgins, 2016). However, this can serve as a weakness as well because for some programs, only certain individuals are accepted based on program guidelines, which limits the validity of the evaluation because the sample is not truly random (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Another type of evaluation is the quasi-experimental design that is similar to the classic design, but attempts to correct for weaknesses by using a less-than-random selection process for participants (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Although this method attempts to strengthen the weakness of the classic design, there is a limitation to this design because taking away the random selection process reduces generalizability of results because the evaluator has specifically chosen these individuals based on specific factors (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Finally, the before-and-after design which gives individuals a test before the treatment and one after, to determine effectiveness of the program (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Ultimately, the strength comes from the ability to test every participant, but again there is limitations because the sample is no longer truly random (Vito & Higgins, 2016).
Questions about Policing
One question about policing programs that may not be able to be answered by randomized control testing would be the impact of drug treatment programs. These programs are often looked to as a crime reducing technique for professionals (Kolind, 2017). Although in theory random samples may help with validity, there is no way to ensure that the individuals completed the treatment or were actively engaged in treatment prior to completing the evaluation. When evaluating drug treatment programs, a quasi-experimental design would work best because the participants could be selected more specifically.
Maryland Scientific Methods Scale
The Maryland Scientific Scale is designed to help program evaluators and researchers design experiments in a way that will help ensure all of their questions are answered in the best way possible (Ross & Schoon, 2011). Using these levels, the following questions could be considered:
Level One: Do after school programs reduce the criminality of youth?
Level Two: How effective are drug programs when they are court-ordered for offenders?
Level Three: When individuals complete a drug program, ...
External Validity and Policy AdaptationFrom Impact Evalua.docxmecklenburgstrelitzh
External Validity and Policy Adaptation:
From Impact Evaluation to Policy Design
Martin J. Williams ∗
February, 2018
Abstract
With the growing number of impact evaluations worldwide, the question of how to ap-
ply this evidence in policymaking processes has arguably become the main challenge for
evidence-based policymaking. How can policymakers predict whether a policy will have the
same impact in their context as it did elsewhere, and how should this influence the policy’s
design and implementation? This paper suggests that failures of external validity (both in
transporting and scaling up policy) can be understood as arising from an interaction between
a policy’s theory of change and a dimension of the context in which it is being implemented.
I survey existing approaches to analyzing external validity, and suggest that there has been
more focus on the generalizability of impact evaluation results than on the applicability
of evidence to specific contexts. To help fill this gap, I develop a method of “mechanism
mapping” that maps a policy’s theory of change against salient contextual assumptions to
identify external validity problems and suggest appropriate policy adaptations. In deciding
whether and how to adapt a policy, there is a fundamental informational trade-off between
the strength of evidence on the policy from other contexts and the policymaker’s information
about the local context.
∗Associate Professor in Public Management, University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government. Email:
[email protected] I am grateful for conversations and comments from Jon Ahlberg, Noam Angrist,
Alex Baron, Maria Barron Rodriguez, Eleanor Carter, Suvojit Chattopadhay, David Evans, Flavia Galvani,
Frances Gardner, Julie Hennegan, David Humphreys, Robert Klitgaard, Julien Labonne, Adauto Modesto, Aoife
O’Higgins, Daniel Rogger, and students at the Blavatnik School and the Escola Nacional de Administração Pública
(Brazil). Any remaining errors are my own. A policy memo based on this paper with a five-step “how-to” guide
is also available (Williams 2017).
External Validity and Policy Adaptation: From
Impact Evaluation to Policy Design
Abstract
With the growing number of impact evaluations worldwide, the question of how to ap-
ply this evidence in policymaking processes has arguably become the main challenge for
evidence-based policymaking. How can policymakers predict whether a policy will have the
same impact in their context as it did elsewhere, and how should this influence the policy’s
design and implementation? This paper suggests that failures of external validity (both in
transporting and scaling up policy) can be understood as arising from an interaction between
a policy’s theory of change and a dimension of the context in which it is being implemented.
I survey existing approaches to analyzing external validity, and suggest that there has been
more focus on the generalizability of impact evaluation results than on the ap.
Here are the key risks and challenges of risk analysis:
- Subjectivity - Risk analysis involves subjective judgments which can introduce biases. Different people may perceive and evaluate risks differently.
- Limited information - It can be difficult to identify all potential risks and quantify their likelihood and impact due to limited information. New risks may emerge over time.
- Dynamic environment - As a business and its environment change, existing risks may diminish or new risks may arise. Risk analysis needs to be ongoing to stay current.
- Cascading failures - Risks are often interconnected so the failure of one system or control may trigger other failures, multiplying the impact. This is difficult to fully map out.
- Human factors - How people and
Order Paper Writing Help 247 - Dissertation Page NumberiJoshua Gorinson
The document discusses femininity in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost. It notes that Milton was a controversial figure who used his writing to address important social and political issues of his time. As one of his most important works, Paradise Lost explores grave social problems related to femininity. The document suggests Milton likely incorporated his own views on topics like marriage and divorce into his portrayal of femininity in the poem.
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A Review Article On Quot Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia)Robin Beregovska
(1) The document provides a review of environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA identifies, predicts, and evaluates the environmental effects of proposed projects or activities.
(2) EIA is a tool used in decision making for development projects. It measures the environmental impacts of upcoming projects, including physical and social factors, and provides measures to minimize impacts.
(3) EIA has become a requirement in over 100 countries and is an important tool for deciding whether to approve a project at a particular site based on its environmental impacts. EIA also helps negotiate among developers, public groups, and regulators.
We documented and illustrated the use of a data collection and analysis suite, SenseMaker, that was designed to collect and work with narrative fragments. The approach presented adds a new and inherently mixed tool to the mixed methods toolbox. Despite its novelty and potential utility, little has been written in the academic literature on the application of SenseMaker to complex problems. To the best of our knowledge, the approach has not been used in relation to climate change or climate change adaptation and has not been presented in the mixed methods literature. We sought to contribute to filling this gap through describing the approach used to generate the data that underpin the articles in this special feature. Our purpose was to illustrate some of the potential and most notable challenges of using the SenseMaker data collection and analysis process in a complex domain through examining adaptation to climate change. Our overview was not exhaustive but rather sought to highlight capabilities and challenges through examining experiences of adaptation from a stages of change perspective. SenseMaker provides a remarkably powerful tool for the capture of micronarratives of complex phenomena such as climate change. The capacity to have respondents interpret, i.e., make sense of, their own narratives is an important innovation that provides one plausible solution to the problem of analysts coding narratives.
A virtual environment for formulation of policy packagesAraz Taeihagh
The interdependence and complexity of socio-technical systems and availability of a wide variety of policy measures to address policy problems make the process of policy formulation difficult. In order to formulate sustainable and efficient transport policies, development of new tools and techniques is necessary. One of the approaches gaining ground is policy packaging, which shifts focus from implementation of individual policy measures to implementation of combinations of measures with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of policy interventions by increasing synergies and reducing potential contradictions among policy measures. In this paper, we describe the development of a virtual environment for the exploration and analysis of different configurations of policy measures in order to build policy packages. By developing systematic approaches it is possible to examine more alternatives at a greater depth, decrease the time required for the overall analysis, provide real-time assessment and feedback on the effect of changes in the configurations, and ultimately form more effective policies. The results from this research demonstrate the usefulness of computational approaches in addressing the complexity inherent in the formulation of policy packages. This new approach has been applied to the formulation of policies to advance sustainable transportation.
Addressing Gender Inequality In Science The Multifaceted Challenge Of Assess...Nathan Mathis
This document discusses approaches to assessing the impact of programs aimed at addressing gender inequality in science. It argues that a holistic, multidimensional approach is needed rather than focusing on a single issue. A complex, integrated solution is required as gender inequality stems from many interrelated factors. Assessing impact also needs to be complex to account for these interconnections and the multifaceted nature of the problem. A simple, linear model is insufficient and impact assessment must consider multiple components, contexts, and perspectives.
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Name _____________________Bipedal AustralopithOBJECTIVES.docxroushhsiu
Name: _____________________Bipedal Australopith?
OBJECTIVES
After completing this exercise, you should be able to:
Understand bipedalism
Compare and contrast the feet of several primates to identify bipedal abilities.
INTRODUCTION
Bipedalism is the act of walking on two feet. This can be habitually or for brief periods of time. The ability to walk bipedally in an efficient manner depends on great changes to the structure of the body. One of those changes comes from the foot.
EXERCISE
Anthropologists have argued about the bipedal abilities of our potential ancestors Australopithecus afarensis. Here you will compare your own foot to the foot of an Australopith and a chimpanzee to see where they fall. More human? More ape?
Part A:
Foot Measurements:
Determine whether A. afarensis had feet that more closely resembled modern humans or modern chimpanzees. (Remember that the primitive, or earliest, condition is expected to be more like that of a modern chimpanzee).
·
In this section of the activity, you will take three measurements: the distance between the hallux (big toe)
and the second toe, foot length (the length from the tip of the longest toe to the back of the heel), and foot width (the widest part of the foot usually around the toe area).
Actual size outlines of a chimpanzee foot and from an A. afarensis foot print preserved at Laetoli have
been provided for you.
1. Trace your bare foot on a clean sheet of paper (you can use the back of this lesson).
2. Using digital calipers or a ruler, measure in cm the distances according to the instructions.
Write your results in the space provided on the graph.
3. Calculate the hallux divergence index by dividing the foot width by the foot length.
4. Answer these questions based on your results:
What is bipedalism?
What are the earliest fossil hominins that show bipedalism?
What anatomical features are indicative of bipedalism?
Did Australopiths have a toe more similar to humans or apes? Give your reasoning.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES WITHIN AND ACROSS PROJECTS1
Tracy A. Jenkin and Yolande E. Chan
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University,
Kingston, ON CANADA K7L 3N6 {[email protected]} {[email protected]}
Rajiv Sabherwal
Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, AR 72701 U.S.A. {[email protected]}
Although information systems development (ISD) projects are critical to organizations and improving them has
been the focus of considerable research, successful projects remain elusive. Focusing on the cognitive aspects
of ISD projects, we investigate how and why mutual understanding (MU) among key stakeholder groups
(business and information technology managers, users, and developers) changes within and across projects,
and how it affects project success. We examine relationships among project planning and control mechanisms;
sense ...
This paper reviews research methods used in mobile human-computer interaction (HCI) research. The authors analyzed 102 mobile HCI publications and categorized them based on their research methods and purpose. They found a bias toward building systems and evaluating them in laboratory settings, with little use of field studies, action research, or basic research. This limits the development of cumulative knowledge about mobile HCI design and use. The authors argue more research is needed using methods like field studies and action research to better understand mobile HCI in real-world contexts.
Running head RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, DESIGN AND METHODS 1RESEARC.docxjeanettehully
This document summarizes a research study conducted on Sun Coast Health. The study aimed to evaluate various areas of concern for Sun Coast, including the relationship between particulate matter size and employee health, the effectiveness of safety training, predicting noise levels at job sites, comparing new and previous employee training programs, analyzing changes in lead exposure, and differences in return on investment for different services. The study used quantitative research methods and collected data from over 100 job sites and 1500 contracts. Various statistical analyses were used to analyze the data and test hypotheses related to each research question.
This document discusses process evaluation for implementation science projects. It defines process evaluation as understanding how and why interventions work by examining implementation and change processes. Key aspects of process evaluation include assessing fidelity, dose, reach, adaptations and context. Process evaluation helps explain success or failure of interventions and understand outcome heterogeneity. The document reviews guidelines for process evaluation from the UK Medical Research Council, including clarifying theories of change. It then discusses the PeriKIP project, which aims to improve perinatal health in Vietnam using participatory stakeholder groups, and outlines plans for its process evaluation.
The impact of Science Literacy delivery methods - what works?NIDA-Net
This report summarizes research on the impact of different methods for delivering science literacy. Over 2,000 impact assessment studies from the 1990s onward were reviewed across 7 categories of delivery mechanisms. The research aimed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each mechanism and identify gaps. While most studies were small-scale, digital technologies like online learning and social media have increased science communication and raised questions about their long-term impacts, which require more systematic large-scale research. The report recommends standardizing evaluation tools to help consolidate efforts and further improve science literacy delivery.
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & H.docxchristalgrieg
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013)
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013) were qualitative program evaluation, inductive approach, and holistic approach.
According to the article, Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods indicated that “qualitative methods are commonly used in evaluations in order to explore specific facets of programs and give voice to participants”. The qualitative evaluation methods can provide in-depth information that can assist in enhancing the quality of a specific program (Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods).
According to McDavid & Huse (2013) defined inductive approach, as a method that “starts with ‘the data’ namely narratives, direct and indirect (unobtrusive) observations, interactions between stakeholders and the evaluator, documentary evidence, and other sources of information, and then constructs an understanding of the program” p200.
The Holistic Approach defined by McDavid & Huse (2003) is “discovering the themes in the data, weighting them, verifying them with stakeholders, and finally, preparing a document that reports the findings and conclusions” p200.
In the article, “Measuring Change in a Short-Term Educational Program Using a Retrospective Pretest Design”, centered around the Pennsylvania Governor’s School International Studies having a summer program that gives gifted high school students a challenging introduction to the study of internal affairs. The program administrators wanted to understand the effect of the program on the student’s understanding of their knowledge surrounding the core issues (Moore & Tananis 2009). For the past four years the program administrators began using the retrospective pre-post design. The results from the pretest yielded that the students consistently overestimated their understanding of International Studies in the beginning. The program administrator found that using the “retrospective pretest items were more biases than pretest items in certain context” (Moore & Tannis 2009 p200). The authors concluded that the retrospective pretest perhaps could be the most effective way of capturing data that is accurate of pre intervention function than a pretest given before the program begins.
For this article, this learner would use the inductive approach for this article. This approach will allow the researcher and the program administrators to evaluate the program effectiveness through the data that was collected through the pretest, test that were administered throughout the course, and other data. This approach will allow for interviewing the participants throughout the five week program to determine if the students are learning and meeting the intended goal of the International Studies program. The program administrators can also observe the interactions between the participants.
For this particular study, it would be important to test the students prior to taking the course, and then co ...
This document describes a fuzzy decision support system using a multi-criteria analysis approach to select the best environment-watershed plan. It establishes a hierarchical structure of evaluation criteria and uses fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to determine the weights of criteria based on expert judgments. The study then evaluates plan alternatives using fuzzy multiple criteria decision making (FMCDM) to handle qualitative criteria. An empirical case study demonstrates the synthesis decision process by integrating FAHP and FMCDM for selecting the most appropriate watershed plan.
Applying Experimental Designs To Large-Scale Program Evaluation. Research Pap...Sheila Sinclair
This document discusses the application of an experimental design to evaluate five National Science Foundation comprehensive projects. It describes how the evaluation team made decisions around sampling and data collection for the evaluation, including defining the school as the experimental unit, using a factorial design stratified by subject matter and rural/urban variables, selecting similar geographic control regions, and determining sample sizes despite uncertainty around dependent variables. The goal was to apply an experimental framework to assess the success of the projects in achieving their goal of helping schools improve science and math education, while addressing real-world challenges in implementing such a large-scale evaluation.
The document discusses different types of matrices used in environmental impact assessments to identify interactions between project activities and environmental factors. It describes simple matrices, stepped matrices, and weighted matrices. Simple matrices cross-reference project phases with environmental elements and can use symbols to show impact scale. Stepped matrices consider how activities relate to resources and how one action's impacts can affect other resources. Weighted matrices allow ranking impacts by assigning weights to environmental components and scoring project impacts.
The document discusses a study on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the UK nanotechnology industry. It conducted an online survey of 78 nanotechnology companies on their CSR reporting and conducted 15 interviews with company representatives on their attitudes towards CSR. The study found that the general level of CSR reporting among nanotechnology companies is low, though companies demonstrated awareness of minimizing risks ("do no harm" model of CSR). For CSR to help build adaptive governance of nanotechnology, the study argues serious shortcomings need addressing to move companies closer to seeing CSR as creating positive social value. The conceptual framework examined continuous improvement in CSR and different "modes" of CSR (minimizing risks versus creating social value).
Towards Proactive and Flexible Agent-Based Generation of Policy Packages for ...Araz Taeihagh
One of the approaches gaining ground in policy design is the implementation of combinations of policy measures as policy packages with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the designed policies. In this paper, we describe the recent advancements in the developments of a virtual environment for the exploration and analysis of policy packages. The virtual environment uses an agent-based modelling approach for the generation of different configurations of policy measures in the policy packages. The benefit of using the approach is the proactive and flexible generation of policy packages as the agents can react to the changes that occur and create packages that are more robust. The system allows faster examination of more alternatives, further exploration of the design space, and testing the effects of changes and uncertainties while formulating policies. The results demonstrate the benefit of using agent-based modelling approaches in the design of complex policies.
International Journal ofEnvironmental Researchand Pu.docxnormanibarber20063
International Journal of
Environmental Research
and Public Health
Review
Design of an Air Pollution Monitoring Campaign in
Beijing for Application to Cohort Health Studies
Sverre Vedal 1,2,*, Bin Han 2, Jia Xu 1 ID , Adam Szpiro 3 and Zhipeng Bai 2
1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of
Public Health, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; [email protected]
2 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of
Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100112, China; [email protected] (B.H.); [email protected] (Z.B.)
3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
[email protected]
* Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-206-616-8285
Received: 17 November 2017; Accepted: 12 December 2017; Published: 15 December 2017
Abstract: No cohort studies in China on the health effects of long-term air pollution exposure
have employed exposure estimates at the fine spatial scales desirable for cohort studies with
individual-level health outcome data. Here we assess an array of modern air pollution exposure
estimation approaches for assigning within-city exposure estimates in Beijing for individual pollutants
and pollutant sources to individual members of a cohort. Issues considered in selecting specific
monitoring data or new monitoring campaigns include: needed spatial resolution, exposure
measurement error and its impact on health effect estimates, spatial alignment and compatibility
with the cohort, and feasibility and expense. Sources of existing data largely include administrative
monitoring data, predictions from air dispersion or chemical transport models and remote sensing
(specifically satellite) data. New air monitoring campaigns include additional fixed site monitoring,
snapshot monitoring, passive badge or micro-sensor saturation monitoring and mobile monitoring,
as well as combinations of these. Each of these has relative advantages and disadvantages. It is
concluded that a campaign in Beijing that at least includes a mobile monitoring component, when
coupled with currently available spatio-temporal modeling methods, should be strongly considered.
Such a campaign is economical and capable of providing the desired fine-scale spatial resolution for
pollutants and sources.
Keywords: air pollution; mobile monitoring; exposure estimation; cohort study
1. Introduction
Estimating exposure to air pollution in members of an epidemiological cohort study is central to
assessing associations between air pollution exposure and adverse health effects in these influential
studies. It is notable that such a critical aspect of this research enterprise is also very challenging.
Not only is estimation of air pollution exposure technically and logistically challenging [1,2],
investigators are faced with uncertainty regarding the impacts of exposure measurement error on study
health effect estimates. On the ot.
Megan St. JacquesJul 22, 2021 829 AMEvaluation Types AbramMartino96
Megan St. Jacques
Jul 22, 2021 8:29 AM
Evaluation Types
When completing a program evaluation, evaluators have a few options regarding the design of the evaluation, including the classic experimental design, a quasi-experimental design, and the before-and-after design (Vito & Higgins, 2016). The classic experimental design is used when evaluators compare results of individuals who had the intervention against those that did not have the intervention offered by the program. One of the main strengths of this technique is that the sample is random so there is a wide variety in individuals who will be examined (Vito & Higgins, 2016). However, this can serve as a weakness as well because for some programs, only certain individuals are accepted based on program guidelines, which limits the validity of the evaluation because the sample is not truly random (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Another type of evaluation is the quasi-experimental design that is similar to the classic design, but attempts to correct for weaknesses by using a less-than-random selection process for participants (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Although this method attempts to strengthen the weakness of the classic design, there is a limitation to this design because taking away the random selection process reduces generalizability of results because the evaluator has specifically chosen these individuals based on specific factors (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Finally, the before-and-after design which gives individuals a test before the treatment and one after, to determine effectiveness of the program (Vito & Higgins, 2016). Ultimately, the strength comes from the ability to test every participant, but again there is limitations because the sample is no longer truly random (Vito & Higgins, 2016).
Questions about Policing
One question about policing programs that may not be able to be answered by randomized control testing would be the impact of drug treatment programs. These programs are often looked to as a crime reducing technique for professionals (Kolind, 2017). Although in theory random samples may help with validity, there is no way to ensure that the individuals completed the treatment or were actively engaged in treatment prior to completing the evaluation. When evaluating drug treatment programs, a quasi-experimental design would work best because the participants could be selected more specifically.
Maryland Scientific Methods Scale
The Maryland Scientific Scale is designed to help program evaluators and researchers design experiments in a way that will help ensure all of their questions are answered in the best way possible (Ross & Schoon, 2011). Using these levels, the following questions could be considered:
Level One: Do after school programs reduce the criminality of youth?
Level Two: How effective are drug programs when they are court-ordered for offenders?
Level Three: When individuals complete a drug program, ...
External Validity and Policy AdaptationFrom Impact Evalua.docxmecklenburgstrelitzh
External Validity and Policy Adaptation:
From Impact Evaluation to Policy Design
Martin J. Williams ∗
February, 2018
Abstract
With the growing number of impact evaluations worldwide, the question of how to ap-
ply this evidence in policymaking processes has arguably become the main challenge for
evidence-based policymaking. How can policymakers predict whether a policy will have the
same impact in their context as it did elsewhere, and how should this influence the policy’s
design and implementation? This paper suggests that failures of external validity (both in
transporting and scaling up policy) can be understood as arising from an interaction between
a policy’s theory of change and a dimension of the context in which it is being implemented.
I survey existing approaches to analyzing external validity, and suggest that there has been
more focus on the generalizability of impact evaluation results than on the applicability
of evidence to specific contexts. To help fill this gap, I develop a method of “mechanism
mapping” that maps a policy’s theory of change against salient contextual assumptions to
identify external validity problems and suggest appropriate policy adaptations. In deciding
whether and how to adapt a policy, there is a fundamental informational trade-off between
the strength of evidence on the policy from other contexts and the policymaker’s information
about the local context.
∗Associate Professor in Public Management, University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government. Email:
[email protected] I am grateful for conversations and comments from Jon Ahlberg, Noam Angrist,
Alex Baron, Maria Barron Rodriguez, Eleanor Carter, Suvojit Chattopadhay, David Evans, Flavia Galvani,
Frances Gardner, Julie Hennegan, David Humphreys, Robert Klitgaard, Julien Labonne, Adauto Modesto, Aoife
O’Higgins, Daniel Rogger, and students at the Blavatnik School and the Escola Nacional de Administração Pública
(Brazil). Any remaining errors are my own. A policy memo based on this paper with a five-step “how-to” guide
is also available (Williams 2017).
External Validity and Policy Adaptation: From
Impact Evaluation to Policy Design
Abstract
With the growing number of impact evaluations worldwide, the question of how to ap-
ply this evidence in policymaking processes has arguably become the main challenge for
evidence-based policymaking. How can policymakers predict whether a policy will have the
same impact in their context as it did elsewhere, and how should this influence the policy’s
design and implementation? This paper suggests that failures of external validity (both in
transporting and scaling up policy) can be understood as arising from an interaction between
a policy’s theory of change and a dimension of the context in which it is being implemented.
I survey existing approaches to analyzing external validity, and suggest that there has been
more focus on the generalizability of impact evaluation results than on the ap.
Similar to An Approach To Consider The Impact Of Co-Designed Science Case Study Of Bayesian Networks To Set NRM Targets (20)
Here are the key risks and challenges of risk analysis:
- Subjectivity - Risk analysis involves subjective judgments which can introduce biases. Different people may perceive and evaluate risks differently.
- Limited information - It can be difficult to identify all potential risks and quantify their likelihood and impact due to limited information. New risks may emerge over time.
- Dynamic environment - As a business and its environment change, existing risks may diminish or new risks may arise. Risk analysis needs to be ongoing to stay current.
- Cascading failures - Risks are often interconnected so the failure of one system or control may trigger other failures, multiplying the impact. This is difficult to fully map out.
- Human factors - How people and
Order Paper Writing Help 247 - Dissertation Page NumberiJoshua Gorinson
The document discusses femininity in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost. It notes that Milton was a controversial figure who used his writing to address important social and political issues of his time. As one of his most important works, Paradise Lost explores grave social problems related to femininity. The document suggests Milton likely incorporated his own views on topics like marriage and divorce into his portrayal of femininity in the poem.
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The document provides an overview of the Victorian Era in England, including key events and social changes that defined this period. The Victorian Era saw Queen Victoria's rule from 1837 to 1901, during which time England experienced a rise in industrialization, economic growth, and expansion of the middle class and population. Society was highly conservative and patriarchal. Literature of the era reflected many of the rapid social and economic changes occurring during this transformative period in British history.
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Here are the key points made in the two stories regarding how Hispanic families worked to support themselves:
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- As depicted in both stories, physical labor like picking crops was grueling and took a toll on the body over long hours in the fields every day. However, it provided much needed income for basic survival.
- The stories realistically portray the challenges of subsistence through manual farm work, leaving little choice or opportunity for other types of employment at the time for many Hispanic families immigrating to America. Hard work in the
Famous Quotes For Essay Writing. Online assignment writing service.Joshua Gorinson
The document discusses Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott. It describes Parks' upbringing in Alabama under segregation. On December 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, leading to her arrest. In response, the black community of Montgomery organized a bus boycott that lasted over a year. The boycott challenged the legality of segregation on public buses and ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling that declared the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional. The boycott marked a key moment in the civil rights movement.
Advertisements often portray gender roles in stereotypical ways. They frequently depict women as focused on beauty, fashion and homemaking, while men are shown as strong, powerful and focused on work and leisure activities. However, a closer examination reveals that gender is a social construct, not defined solely by biological sex, and advertising plays a role in perpetuating stereotypes about expectations of masculinity and femininity.
How To Write An Essay - How To Write An Easy Essay InstJoshua Gorinson
This document provides instructions for how to write an essay through an online service in 5 steps: 1) Create an account; 2) Complete an order form with instructions, sources, and deadline; 3) Review writer bids and choose one; 4) Review the paper and authorize payment; 5) Request revisions until satisfied. It emphasizes getting original, high-quality content and the service's commitment to meeting customer needs.
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Scammers use sound science in social media to mislead people. They present scientific-sounding claims without evidence to support false or exaggerated statements. While technology connects people, it also enables the spread of misinformation. Critical thinking is needed to separate facts from unfounded assertions online.
Best Essay Writing Service 2016. Online assignment writing service.Joshua Gorinson
The document discusses the issue of fake news and how it can spread false information and ideas. It notes that fake news stories are intentionally designed to attract attention rather than provide facts. The key challenge with fake news is that the public may have difficulty distinguishing between real and false stories, especially on topics related to politics or government.
Papers Writing Help Reliable Papers. Online assignment writing service.Joshua Gorinson
The document provides information about becoming a naval nurse. It discusses how naval nurses are inspired to join the navy due to family members' stories of adventure. The career of a naval nurse involves collaborating with physicians and developing leadership skills while working long hours depending on their duty station. Naval nurses are typically stationed on land but have opportunities to serve on ships during training or when needed, as there are always medical personnel aboard naval vessels.
Narrative Essay How To Write A Good Analysis EssayJoshua Gorinson
Here are a few examples of government intervention:
- Regulations on businesses and industries, such as environmental regulations, worker safety rules, minimum wage laws, licensing requirements, etc. Supporters argue these protect citizens, while critics argue they stifle the free market.
- Fiscal policy measures like tax cuts or increases, and spending on programs. Conservatives tend to prefer tax cuts while liberals favor more spending on social services.
- Monetary policy set by central banks like the Federal Reserve. Actions like lowering or raising interest rates can stimulate or slow the economy.
- Bailouts of private companies during financial crises, like what occurred in the 2008 recession. Taxpayer money was used to rescue major banks and automakers
What Makes A Great Leader Essay - Resume ThemplatJoshua Gorinson
The document discusses the process of using the writing service HelpWriting.net to have an assignment written. It outlines 5 steps: 1) Create an account, 2) Submit a request with instructions and deadline, 3) Review bids from writers and choose one, 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment, 5) Request revisions if needed and know plagiarized work will be refunded. The service aims to fully meet customer needs through a bidding system and free revisions.
The document discusses the research methodology used in a study. It begins by defining research methodology and outlining the importance of philosophical foundations. It then discusses the mixed methods research design used, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Specifically, it utilized interviews for qualitative data collection and a survey for quantitative data. The research paradigm draws from both positivism in its use of control and hypothesis testing, and constructivism in allowing social actors to provide their perspectives. Both approaches were used to identify opinions from interviewees.
Behavior Research Methods Template - SpringerJoshua Gorinson
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting a paper writing request on the HelpWriting.net website. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with an email and password. 2) Complete a form with paper details, sources, and deadline. 3) Review writer bids and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a refund option for plagiarized work.
Get Paid To Write 2020 - Writing Jobs Online - YouTubeJoshua Gorinson
The document provides instructions for creating an account and submitting writing requests on the HelpWriting.net platform, which uses a bidding system for writers to select and complete assignments. Users are instructed to provide details about the paper requirements and are assured they can request revisions until satisfied with the completed work. The process aims to match users with qualified writers who will deliver original, high-quality content and offer refunds if plagiarism is found.
A Poster With Words That Say More Syonoms For ExcittedJoshua Gorinson
This document discusses Sony Corporation, focusing on its performance, a 2014 cyber attack, and issues of social responsibility. It notes that Sony was once a leader in electronics but has struggled recently, facing competition from companies like Apple and Samsung. A 2011 earthquake in Japan also caused major losses for Sony. The document also briefly mentions how former Sony CEO Howard Stringer provided leadership after the earthquake to reassure employees.
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This document discusses recent work on follow the perturbed leader (FTPL) algorithms for solving multi-armed bandit problems. FTPL algorithms introduce random perturbations to help algorithms explore alternative options. Prior work assumed the distribution generating perturbations had a bounded hazard rate, but many natural distributions like uniform and Gaussian violate this. The paper aims to provide regret bounds for FTPL algorithms without relying on the bounded hazard rate condition. It presents regret bounds for both bounded support and unbounded support perturbation distributions.
The document discusses how to request writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with an email and password. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if satisfied. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, and HelpWriting.net offers refunds for plagiarized work.
Parchment Writing Paper Background. Online assignment writing service.Joshua Gorinson
The document discusses steps for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net, including creating an account, completing an order form with instructions and deadlines, and reviewing bids from writers before selecting one and placing a deposit to start the assignment. It notes the site uses a bidding system and guarantees original, high-quality content while offering free revisions to ensure customer satisfaction.
This document provides an overview of wound healing, its functions, stages, mechanisms, factors affecting it, and complications.
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Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
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Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
Communicating effectively and consistently with students can help them feel at ease during their learning experience and provide the instructor with a communication trail to track the course's progress. This workshop will take you through constructing an engaging course container to facilitate effective communication.
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LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptx
An Approach To Consider The Impact Of Co-Designed Science Case Study Of Bayesian Networks To Set NRM Targets
1. An approach to consider the impact of co-designed
science: Case study of Bayesian networks to set NRM
targets
a
Jenifer L. Ticehurst, b
Sondoss El Sawah and c
Lucy Richardson
a
Fenner School for Environment and Society, Australian National University
b
School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra
Email: S.Elsawah@adfa.edu.au
c
Formerly Condamine Alliance, Toowoomba, Queensland
Abstract: It is now often stated that the scientific community can gain greater impact from their work if
they engage intended stakeholders in co-design, implementation and evaluation of projects. However, the
evidence to substantiate these claims are rarely more than anecdotal and reflective comments from scientists.
Previous evaluation methods for participatory work run the risk of being over simplistic, and therefore omit
important impacts, or become too complex and not user-friendly. In this paper, we provide an intermediate
option, combining the research of others (detailed in Table 1), to produce 5 key dimensions to consider when
evaluating the impact of participatory projects. These dimensions are 1) an increase in knowledge and
awareness, 2) a change in behavior or practice, 3) active dissemination of new knowledge, 4) change in
policy or planning, or some level of government endorsement, and 5) physical system improvements or “on-
ground” change. In addition, social learning, empowerment and new social norms are important, but due to
complexity, they are not yet included in this method. Each dimension can be estimated for its breadth and
depth of the impact by more detailed criteria (e.g. how many people have increased their knowledge? And
how much more do they know (i.e. could they explain it to someone else?)). The breadth is more of a
quantitative assessment, which is generally easier to measure, while the depth, particularly if self-assessed, is
more likely to be qualitative and subject to bias. We provide a grid to plot the breadth and depth impacts, and
the means to combine this impact into a single visual representation on a radar plot (Figure 1). Here multiple
lines represent different people’s views of the same
project, but they could also show the impact of
different projects, or both.
We applied the approach to a case study where the
Condamine catchment Natural Resource Management
(NRM) Plan was updated to better account for the
interactions of management and outcomes across the
people, water, land and wildlife themes, allowing for
external influences such as climate change. A series of
Bayesian networks (Bns) were co-developed with key
staff from the Condamine Alliance (CA) and the
plan’s advisory team through a series of workshops
emails and phone calls. The final Bns were used to set
quantitative targets in the catchment plan for
monitoring and evaluation. The Bns also underpin
website interactive tools, used for communication and
engagement with the wider community.
The impact assessment approach provided a useful
structure to consider the impact of stakeholder
engagement in science, but highlighted the difficulties
in trying to measure impact retrospectively and without a large investment of resources. Ideally useful
bounds to evaluate the impact of participatory science are discussed and decided upon prior to the
commencement of a project, and if not, then the evaluation of its impact would require resourcing of its own.
Keywords: Impact evaluation, Bayesian network, natural resource management targets
Figure 1. Application of impact assessment
approach to case study of Bayesian network
development during redevelopment of the
Condamine catchment NRM Plan.
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1 Increased
knowledge&
awareness
2 Change in
behaviour or
practice
3 Dissemination
of new
knowledge
4 Change policy
or planning,
Government
endorsement
Researcher
Client
21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Gold Coast, Australia, 29 Nov to 4 Dec 2015
www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2015
1958
2. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
1. INTRODUCTION
Researchers and model developers across many disciplines report that participatory research, and developing
models and decision support systems (DSS)s leads to greater acceptance of research outcomes, model results,
and greater use of the DSSs (e.g. Ticehurst, 2008). However, Cleaver (2001, in Nakamura, 2014) states that’s
there is a lack of evidence of the long-term effectiveness from participation in general, we consider this
particularly the case for participatory modelling. Carberry (2004) believes that researchers tend not to
monitor the impact of their research because it is too difficult, too hard to attribute a single cause of impact,
and the evaluation itself has little impact. He argues that the competing pressures for researchers to “provide
innovative research” and make an impact on the ground, can lead to the measurement of the latter being
neglected. Yet he still advocates for including participatory approaches in research projects. However, as
funding bodies and employers make a greater push for researchers and government agencies to demonstrate
their impact, rather than just report on activities completed, there is a growing need to measure the impact of
research which involves stakeholders in a meaningful way.
Researchers have presented different approaches to measure impacts. Bellamy et al (2001) provide a
framework for the evaluation of Natural Resource Management (NRM) policy, while Jones et al (2009)
developed a framework to evaluate participatory modelling. These frameworks provide great insight into the
steps required to evaluate participatory work, but they also contain many less transferable steps that are
specific to the purpose for which they were developed. Others provide a more general approach for
evaluating participatory research in the integration of bio-physical and socio-economic research (Blackstock
et al, 2007), but they provide a list of 21 criteria to evaluate the participatory research against. We argue that,
although not all criteria are used at all stages of the project, this is still too many criteria to consider the
impact againstparticularly in retrospective evaluation. Unless it was a dedicated study to measuring the
impact, it is more likely that the impact would not be investigated at all, so we suggest a simpler approach.
More recently, Jones et al (2014) represented the impact of stakeholder engagement by developing a two-
dimensional framework to assess the outcome of a participatory plant breeding project in West Africa. They
describe a scale of participation from consultative, to collaborative to collegial on one axis, while the
outcomes on the other axis are to achieve the instrumental goals, empower the participants, or be considered
manipulative. But as Bellamy et al (2001) notes, if the evaluation is too limited in its criterion, important
benefits may be missed.
This paper presents a compromise between the simplistic and complicated approaches to measure impact,
which we believe will allow researchers to consider the depth and breadth of the impact of their work. We
consolidate information from a literature review into a list of 5 dimensions, to measure impact of stakeholder
engagement in science. We then suggest a way to semi-quantify the impact on each dimension, through
criteria involving a qualitative or categorical reflection of the work. The impact from the stakeholder
engagement can then be represented graphically in a single radar plot. Here we explore the usefulness of
these criteria and this approach through a retrospective analysis of a participatory project to develop a
Bayesian network (Bn) in the Condamine catchment, Queensland, Australia.
2. APPROACH TO EVALUATE IMPACT
From the literature we summarised the key dimensions to measure the impact of participatory science in
Table 1. The dimensions could be used at the beginning of the project to discuss the intended or desired
impact of the project, which could be tested against the results from the evaluation. As part of this discussion,
the current state of the knowledge base and practice would need to be specified, in order to put any future
change into context. The proposed approach allows for the impact of participatory science to be made at
different scales from the individual, to the group or community, or even the institution or the system. At the
finest level, the impact could increase the knowledge and skills of an individual. This is known as a
normative function of participatory processes (Blackstock et al, 2007). Increases in knowledge and awareness
have been well linked to changes in behavior and/or practice (e.g. Vanclay, 1992). At the coarser group level,
the collective learning from different people’s perspectives in the process can produce a common and better
understanding of the issues, and therefore enable better solutions (Blackstock et al., 2007). This is known as
the substantive function of participatory processes. An in-depth increase in knowledge could lead to
individuals or groups disseminating the new information and skills to other colleagues, individuals, or
groups, which in turn increases the number of individuals who have increased their knowledge and skills.
The collaborative relationships which are built during participatory processes assist in diffusing conflicts,
known as the instrumental function (Blackstock, et al, 2007). New knowledge and skills, plus public support,
can lead to changes in policy and/or government support or endorsement. From either an individuals’,
1959
3. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
groups’ or community’s change in practice, or a change in policy, there can be a resultant change in the
physical system, such as a change in the natural resource condition.
The impact of an increase in knowledge and awareness is closely linked to social learning and empowerment
(Nakamura, 2015), and with follow on effects to social norms. However, the social learning components are
difficult to measure (Blackstock et al, 2007) without research beyond the scope of this conference paper. We
suggest that a simple method to estimate the level of social learning and empowerment from a co-designed
project is needed.
3. CASE STUDY BACKGROUND
The Condamine River catchment is in southern Queensland, Australia. It is a complex mix of human and
natural capital which needs to be managed in a holistic way, in order to ensure its sustainability into the
future. The region’s NRM Plan is the collaborative guiding framework developed by the catchment
community for protecting the natural assets. The 2010 Catchment Plan was developed using scientific
assessment, and a series of community and stakeholder consultations to try and ensure that the defined land,
water and wildlife targets were feasible and desirable by the community, industry and government partners.
The plan needed to be revised and updated to address climate adaptation and emerging issues such as mining
impact, but also to better coordinate actions and integrate system interactions across the land, water and
wildlife themes. It was crucial to carry out a process that continued the engagement with the community, and
also integrated the best current science to refine the natural resource targets and priorities for the catchment.
The ANU developed 6 Bn models (Ticehurst, 2014), one for each of the water sub-catchment management
areas in the Condamine catchment, which were used to assist in setting targets for the revised plan. The
models can be used for ongoing exploration of the potential impact of changes in land use and climate upon
the land, water and wildlife assets. From this, users can investigate the potential for land management and
planning to mitigate any negative impacts and can use the information to inform the development of
guidelines for land use and management in order to protect the catchments' natural resources and move
towards achieving the targets.
The models were developed following the typical iterative process in Bn development, as illustrated in
Ticehurst et al. (2009). There were three stakeholder workshops with the advisory team, held throughout the
course of the 14 month project. The advisory team was made up of 14 people from 11 organisations, who
were consulted about the model conceptual frameworks, states used to describe the system components,
potential sources of data, and how best to use the models to contribute to the planning process. More regular
engagement occurred between three key staff members of CA, which built a greater level of trust between
them and the key researcher. Through this communication the outcomes from the stakeholder workshops
about the models were confirmed, the usefulness of various data sources and reports were discussed, input
data was reviewed, options for overcoming model software constraints were discussed, training about model
use occurred and some aspects of model testing were explored. In the end, the 6 Bns were run by CA staff
Table 1. Dimensions to measure the impact of stakeholder engagement in science
Impact dimensions Description for criteria development References
1. Increase in
knowledge and awareness
How many people have increased their knowledge, and how
much detail do they now know? Enough to understand it, or
enough to explain it to others?
Carberry (2004), Bunyatta
et al (2006), Ticehurst et
al (2012),
2. Change in behaviour
or practice
How many people have changed their behaviour or practice,
and how much of their possible practice have their changed?
This includes the use of outputs, such as models, produced in
the participatory process.
Carberry (2004), Bunyatta
et al (2006), Dalton et al,
2011
3. Active dissemination
of new knowledge
How many people are actively passing on the new knowledge,
and what scale is the new knowledge being distributed?
Bunyatta et al (2006),
Tripp et al (2005)
4. Change in policy or
planning, or government
endorsement
How many policies and/ or plans have been changed or
updated? Has a government body provided endorsement of the
outcomes? What level of government have these changes
occurred at?
Owenya et al (2011)
5. Physical system
improvements or on-ground
change
To what extent has there been a change ‘on the ground’, other
than a change in practice? For example has the water quality
improved, agricultural production increased, soil erosion
decreased?
Bellamy et al (2001)
1960
4. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
Figure 2. Scales to consider the two dimensions of 4 framework criteria.
Blue cross = researcher, Green dot = client
0% 100%
Narrow Moderate Widespread
Breadth of increase in knowledge
0%
100%
Shallow
Moderate
In
depth
Depth
of
increase
in
knowledge
0%
Narrow Moderate Widespread
Breadth of change in practice
100%
0%
100%
Extent
of
change
in
practice
0%
Narrow Moderate Widespread
Breadth of dissemination
100%
0%
100%
Scale
of
dissemination
0%
Narrow Moderate Widespread
Breadth of new policy, planning, endorsement
100%
0%
100%
Scale
of
new
policy,
plan,
endorsement
1) Increase in knowledge 2) Change in practice
4) Change in policy, planning &
government endorsement
3) Level of information dissemination
with selected advisors, to assist in setting the land, water and wildlife targets in the revised NRM Plan. The
Bns also underpin a suite of interactive tools on the internet (http://www.nrmplan.com.au/catchment_models)
which are being used as communication and engagement tools with the wider community.
4. METHOD FOR APPLYING IMPACT EVALUATION
Methods listed in the literature for collecting data on the impact of participatory research range from the
purposeful completion of surveys and interviews (Bunyatta et al, 2006, Dalton et al, 2011, Clark and Seidu
Jasaw, 2014, Ticehurst et al, 2012, Blackstock et al, 2007), to ‘softer’ approaches such as document analysis
(Blackstock et al, 2007) and the review of diaries (Clark and Seidu Jasaw, 2014), and system
conceptualizations (Henly-Shepherd et al., 2015). While the former can provide a strong quantitative method
to measure the impact of participatory science, it is also more time consuming, which can make it less
feasible in the practicalities of research. Others have found the differences in opinion of impact from
different groups of stakeholders considered as ‘internal’ stakeholders (clients) and ‘external’ stakeholders
(research community) (Blackstock et al., 2012). Consequently a more thorough evaluation should also
consider the impact from multiple perspectives.
Given this, applying this approach would ideally utilize the results from dedicated temporal surveys,
administered by a third party, and completed by individual researchers, immediate clients, stakeholder
representatives, and the wider community, about their experiences, before and throughout a project, and
beyond its delivery. However, the aim of this paper is to provide a method which is not overly labour
intensive, and hence more likely to be used. Therefore we suggest a two-dimensional ‘gauge’ to assist in
structuring individuals’ reflections on a project, and enable a qualitative estimate of the depth and breadth of
the impact for each criteria (see Table 1). For example, for a particular project a survey respondent would
first consider any increase in knowledge and awareness of stakeholders, be it with regards to the breadth of
knowledge (“how many people have increased their knowledge and awareness?”). This represents a range
from 0% to 100% of their perceived feasible expectations for a project, which is plotted along the x- axis in
Figure 2(1) in blue text. For those who are not comfortable in responding quantitatively, qualitative category
descriptions are offered as “narrow” (i.e. a few people), “moderate” or “widespread” (a vast majority of the
people whom the research could impact). Then a survey respondent would consider, of those people who
have increased their knowledge and awareness, to what depth have they gained that insight? Again this could
be considered on a scale from 0% to 100% of the perceived feasible expectations of depth to be gained, with
qualitative category descriptors of “shallow” (i.e. they understand the concepts), “moderate” (i.e. they
understand the principles behind the concepts), or “in depth” knowledge (they can explain that knowledge to
others) to assist in
interpretation. This
informs selection against
the vertical red text on the
y-axis of Figure 2(1). Now
the impact for knowledge
can be marked using its xy
co-ordinates. Reading off
the parallel diagonal lines
provides an impact to be
assigned, where the
bottom left corner has no
impact (0%), increasing to
the top right corner which
has a maximum impact
(100%), with any possible
impact score in between.
For example, the blue
cross in Figure 2(1) shows
a 33% (narrow to
moderate) breadth in the
increase in knowledge (i.e.
the number of people
increasing knowledge),
with a moderate to in-
depth understanding
1961
5. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
(marked as 66%), which sits the blue cross along the diagonal line of a 50% impact on knowledge. The single
value for impact of that criteria is then plotted onto a radar plot (Figure 1). This is repeated for each of the
criteria to give an integrated visual representation of the total impact of the project according to that source.
If the criteria are believed to vary in importance, then the impact of the breadth compared to the depth (i.e. x
and y co-ordinates) and/or the impact from one criteria compared to another can be scaled accordingly.
By way of demonstration, and given the limited resources, the ANU researcher for the CA case study, and
one of the key CA staff, both authors of this paper, used the approach provided in Figure 2 to independently
reflect upon their perception of the impact of developing Bns with stakeholder engagement to assist in setting
targets for the NRM Plan against criteria for four of the dimensions given in Table 1. Dimension 5 was not
included because it was not feasible to see any change in natural resource condition given the time period for
this paper. Both the researcher and the CA staff member self-assessed the impact based upon their
perceptions of workshop participation. The researcher also used their previous 10 years’ experience in
developing Bns with NRM staff. While the CA staff member also used insight into who workshop
participants shared the information with, knowledge of the CA’s newsletter distribution, and feedback from
workshop evaluation sheets completed by the advisory team, not focused upon measuring impact.
Table 2. Evidence used to complete the engagement framework
Impact Dimension ANU Researcher Condamine Alliance representative
Evidence Impact
score
Evidence Impact
score
1 Increase in
knowledge
3 key CA staff thoroughly
understand Bns to use
independently. Advisory team
familiar with development process
and approach for setting targets.
Number of people with increased
knowledge was considered
moderate.
Moderate
50%
Advisory team, scenario planners, flow-
on discussion at home organisations,
community feedback, reports reviewed
by funding body staff = approx. 45
people. People started with a range of
knowledge, but estimate that they all
increased it by the same amount (e.g.
Low to moderate, high to very high).
40%
Moderate
2 Change in practice Bns used directly to inform the
NRM Plan. NRM targets now
quantitative, with measurable goals
to gauge the progress.
Low to
Moderate
35%
Project team (including consultants)
changed practices in response to
learnings. Estimate half of Advisory
team, all of the project team, and some
co-workers = approx. 10 people.
Estimate small changes to practices for
external stakeholders, Moderate
changes in practice for project team and
co-workers.
Low to
Moderate
25%
3 Dissemination of
new knowledge
3 key CA staff could thoroughly
explain Bns during workshops, and
advocate for their use, benefits and
limitations to others, but this is a
small 30number of people.
Moderate
45%
Advisory team passed information on to
co-workers during project. Project team
passed knowledge on through
conference presentations and posters,
reports, via newsletters, workshops etc.
Estimated approx. 900 people.
Information generally on narrow topics
in each instance, but covering fair depth
over all instances. Very few covering
true depth of knowledge.
Moderate
to High
63%
4 Change in policy,
planning, or
government
endorsement
Dramatic change in NRM planning
process for the region, but only for
this plan.
Low to
Moderate
27%
The NRM plan itself. Slight change to
CA policy to accommodate the new
plan and its tools. Minor changes to
Australian and Queensland government
policies. Expect minimal changes to
stakeholder policy and plans. Estimate
8 policies/plans changed to a minor
extent, except for the NRM plan itself.
Includes national to local policy
changes, but largest at regional then
local scales.
Low to
Moderate
35%
NOTE: The authors did not include attendees at conferences or Queensland NRM groups who attended knowledge sharing workshops
in Criteria 1.
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6. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
5. RESULTS
The ANU researcher and CA representative completed the assessment using the evidence presented in Table
2 to assign the respective impact values for each dimension shown in Figure 2. We assumed that each criteria
of each dimension were valued equally, therefore no scaling was applied. The resultant radar plot of the total
impact (Figure 1), visually shows a similar impact from the assessment of the researcher and the client,
across the four criteria. Several possible reasons for the similarity in the responses include 1) they are the
centering on the actual impact of the project, 2) they could be an indication of the strong working relationship
built up between the researcher and client such that they both share similar opinions on the project outcomes
3) they could be a factor of the classification of the framework design that makes it difficult for widespread
discrepancy. The three key differences in ratings (18% greater impact rating by the client for the
dissemination of new information and 10% greater impact rating by the researcher for increases in
knowledge, and changes in practice, 7% greater impact rating by the client on policy, may be due to different
levels of access to the baseline/results by the two raters. The researcher may have under-estimated the pre-
existing knowledge and practice of the stakeholders and the community, but as Blackstock et al (2012) also
found, stakeholders may not put as much emphasis on improving knowledge as the research community
does. Instead they believe that the implementation of a plan is more important (Blackstock et al 2012), which
again aligns with the differences in policy impact estimates. This might also be an indication that the impact
criteria presented here have unintentionally been scaled to the relative importance given to the criteria by the
respondents.
6. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
We proposed a simple semi-quantified approach to assist in structuring reflection on the impact of
stakeholder engagement in co-designed science projects. It was developed using a modest literature review,
and would benefit from a more complete search of other published works, as well as a review and discussion
by a wider scientific audience, as is proposed for this conference session. Our aim was to propose an
approach which contained enough detail to capture the major components of the impact of stakeholder
engagement, but was not overly complicated to hinder its utility. Hence we provided a grid to assist in
transforming qualitative impacts into quantitative measures which can be plotted and compared on a radar
plot. The approach provided a useful structure to reflect upon the impact of the project, but it also highlighted
some strong limitations in trying to carry out such a simplified process retrospectively.
The results presented here may indicate that a greater impact rating reflects a higher level of importance
placed upon that criteria from the respondent, but also that different raters may have better access to, or
different, information sources. It may be that some effort needs to be made to weight the criteria to reflect the
relative importance, using the findings of other research such as Blackstock et al (2012) as a guide. However,
this requires additional resources, mainly time and money.
Dedicated target setting as well as data collection from surveys prior to commencement, throughout and
beyond the completion of a project (to account for temporal variation), and conducted by a third party, would
give a more rigorous measure of the impact of the co-designed science. However, do the additional resources
required to complete such an evaluation, outweigh the benefits of the approach? This can only be answered
once the reason for wanting to know about the impact of participatory science has been confirmed, and the
balance between the analysis, implementation and evaluation of co-designed science is clarified with respect
to the available resources (time and money). This would also force the project evaluation to be considered at
the commencement of the project, which is not often the case. If the impact was discussed at the
commencement of the project, then useful criteria to describe each dimension, how they should be
represented, and the temporal boundaries could also be agreed upon, which would ensure that the appropriate
criteria are included and they are commonly understood.
This all leads towards the question about what are the useful bounds to place around measuring the impact of
stakeholder engagement in science. If we attempt to be all-inclusive and scientifically rigorous, does the
exercise become too unmanageable to be worth pursuing? Perhaps Carberry (2004) had it correct saying that
researchers don’t measure their impact because it is too difficult. However, we suggest that the complexity
and suitability of any given framework needs to be appropriate for the purpose. The intermediate approach
presented here, can be applied to structure a reflective measure of the impact of co-designed science, but a
more rigorous and quantitative approach requires considerably more resources and prior planning.
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7. Ticehurst et al., An approach to consider the impact of co-designed science: …
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was funded by the Condamine Alliance, and supported by the Australian National Centre for
Groundwater Research and Training. We would also like to thank Dr Wendy Merritt for her insight into the
topic and framework.
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