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Purposeful Evaluation

Regular price $119.95
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This book offers a practical guide for those transitioning from research to systematic evaluation. With growing demand for reliable evaluation across government, charities and other institutions, ...
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  • 23 December 2025
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This book offers a practical guide for those transitioning from research to systematic evaluation.

With growing demand for reliable evaluation across government, charities and other institutions, many new evaluators lack necessary knowledge and skills. This book addresses those gaps, offering step-by-step guidance on designing and delivering fit-for-purpose evaluations to maximise their use and utility. Taking a holistic approach to the evaluation journey, it covers key challenges such as engaging stakeholders, managing expectations and handling resource pressures.

With real-world case studies and practical tools, this is an essential resource for practitioners across public, academic and voluntary sectors.

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Price: $119.95
Pages: 348
Publisher: Bristol University Press
Imprint: Policy Press
Publication Date: 23 December 2025
ISBN: 9781447376125
Format: Hardcover
BISACs: SOCIAL SCIENCE / Methodology, Research methods / methodology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Research, Social welfare, social policy and social services, Social research and statistics
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“At last, a book that provides - in one place - everything that the prospective evaluator needs to get started. This is practical, accessible advice grounded in real-world experience.” Andrew Jarvis, Vice President, ICF

David Parsons is a programme evaluator with over 30 years’ experience of independent public policy analysis in the UK, Europe and internationally. He is also Visiting Professor at Leeds Beckett University, Principal Consultant at P&A Research and Consulting, and Programme Lead for evaluation practitioner training at the UK’s Social Research Association.

Part 1: Starting Points

1. Why purposeful evaluation?

Part 2: Setting the Foundations

2. Defining the purpose

3. Managing evaluation objectives and expectations

4. Managing the ethical dimension

Part 3: Choosing the Right Method

5. Understanding the choices

6. Process evaluation

7. Economic evaluation

8. Fully experimental impact evaluation

9. Quasi-experimental impact evaluation

10. Theory-based impact evaluation

11. Meta-evaluation

Part 4: Putting it in Place: Preparation into Delivery

12. Preparation and groundwork

13. Managing challenges and delivery

Part 5: Presenting and Mobilising Evidence

14. Delivering the evidence

15. Optimising evaluation influence