How to evaluate asset-based approaches in an asset-based way

This paper sets out 10 principles to think about when evaluating asset-based approaches. It is mostly written for people in third sector or community groups who want to use evaluation to improve their practice and report to others but it may also be of interest to funders and policy-makers.   

Principles include:

1. Involve people in evaluation … proportionately
2. Gather evidence where people actually are
3. Keep it simple – Don’t treat communities like a laboratory  
4. More words and stories than numbers
5. Hold the outcomes lightly
6. Be open to the unintended/unknown 
7. Seek different versions of the ‘truth’
8. Build reflection into everyday
9. Respond to different learning styles
10. Don’t be precious about ‘need’

Please get in touch

If you have experience of evaluating asset-based approaches – or would like help to do so: info@evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk