Putting it all together: Writing the final report

1. Putting it all together: Writing the final report

2. Overview • Why write a final report? • What are the main elements to include? • Creative ways of reporting information • Tips for communicating findings • Next steps

3. Why write a final report? • To share findings • To build understanding and awareness among stakeholders • To help with decision-making • To demonstrate accountability

4. The final report: Main elements

5. Executive summary • A “plain language” overview of the report • Four main sections: • The questions being addressed in the evaluation • An introduction to the program • Main activities • Conclusions This section should be no longer than 3 pages.

6. Table of contents • A listing of the different sections contained in the report • A “roadmap” for what to expect • Main sections + page numbers

7. Introduction • An overview of the program being evaluated • Main objectives of the evaluation • Target population • Program history • Reasons for evaluating at this time • Stakeholders • Audience for evaluation • A review of the literature This section should be about 5-7 pages long.

8. Methodology • Overview of the evaluation plan (including the development/planning process) • Logic model • Evaluation questions • Indicators and measures • Data collection plan • Analysis plan • Anticipated challenges or limitations This section should be about 5-7 pages long.

9. Discussion and lessons learned • Describe the challenges and successes related to… • Collaborating and communicating with partners and stakeholders • Developing an evaluation framework and the impact on the organization • Working with the Centre This section should be about 4-6 pages long.

10. Recommendations and next steps • 1-3 insights related to the experience of developing an evaluation framework • 1-3 recommendations for your organization about how to move forward with evaluation • Suggestions to the Centre to help improve their level of support and training This section should be about 1-3 pages long.

11. Knowledge exchange • Overview of activities related to communicating and/or disseminating the evaluation framework • Plans for knowledge exchange activities during implementation • Plans to ensure the use of findings from the evaluation This section should be about 1-3 pages long.

12. References and appendices • References: • Alphabetical summary of sources cited throughout the paper • APA format • Appendices: • Additional information on the program • Additional information on framework • Measures that will be used • Ethics forms

13. Stepping outside the box: Creative ways of communicating information • Photographs • Cartoons • Poetry

15. Tips for communicating findings • Consider your audience • Emphasize evaluation as a tool for learning and guiding improvement • Write with clarity: • Use the right word in the right place • “Gained a lot out of this experience…” • “Tenants of multiculturalism…” • Avoid awkward sentences • Avoid rambling, run-on sentences • Avoid sentence fragments

16. Try to use examples or statements that substantiate your point • Beware of grammatical errors: • “I learned that if they do X, a woman can experience Y” • Write, proofread, and re-write

17. Your final report should include… • Logic model • The measures matrix • An analysis plan

18. Next Steps • April 30: Final report due • May 1 to 14: Exit surveys • May 1 to 14: Evaluation readiness assessment for the Evaluation Implementation Grants • June 2: Deadline for EIG grant applications • June webinar: The road to data collection

19. Questions? Dr. Purnima Sundar Research and Knowledge Exchange Consultant 613.737.7600 Ext. 3485 psundar@cheo.on.ca