Finding and Choosing an External Evaluator
Web resources for external evaluators/expertise:
American Evaluation Association (AEA), www.eval.org. Under Find an Evaluator (on the top navigation bar): Search Evaluator Listing searches for an external evaluator by keyword or state, while Browse All Listings produces a list of all evaluators in the database.
New York University Wagner Capstone Program, http://wagner.nyu.edu/capstone/. Organizations can apply for assistance from graduate students to carry out planning and evaluation activities, at a small cost to the organization. Projects must fit within an academic year.
Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), www.qrca.org. Under Find a Researcher (on the top navigation bar): search by geographic location, language, specialty, industry, and more.
Other potential sources for external evaluators/expertise:
Local universities/colleges: Universities and colleges often have staff and graduate students who carry out evaluation activities. Evaluation expertise is sometimes found in the departments of social work, psychology, or in university medical or research centers.
Professional evaluators/evaluation firms: There are many professional evaluators and evaluation firms, both nonprofit, and for-profit, which can be found by asking for recommendations from funders or other agencies, or though Web searches.
Please note, this is not a comprehensive list, and inclusion on this list does not suggest a recommendation or endorsement by the New York State Health Foundation, or its staff or consultants.
Key criteria for selecting an external evaluation consultant:
- Formal academic preparation/specialized training
- Evaluation expertise and experience
- Evaluation philosophy or approach
- Topical or substantive experience/knowledge: are they familiar with the program area?
- Capacity: Do they have sufficient staff and time to do the work?
- Track record: Check references and ask to see samples of work products
- Geography: Will a consultant 1,000 miles away be as responsive as a local one?
- Personal style: Can you work with this evaluator/group?
- Cost: Is the cost reasonable and/or competitive? Is it affordable?