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Summative Evaluation

Summative evaluation looks at the impact of an intervention on the target group. This type of evaluation is arguably what is considered most often as 'evaluation' by project staff and funding bodies- that is, finding out what the project achieved.

Summative evaluation can take place during the project implementation, but is most often undertaken at the end of a project. As such, summative evaluation can also be referred to as ex-post evaluation (meaning after the event).

Summative evaluation is often associated with more objective, quantitative methods of data collection.  Summative evaluation is linked to the evaluation drivers of accountability.  It is recommended to use a balance of both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to get a better understanding of what your project has achieved, and how or why this has occurred. Using qualitative methods of data collection can also provide a good insight into unintended consequences and lessons for improvement.

Summative evaluation is outcome-focused more than process focussed. It is important to distinguish outcome from output. Summative evaluation is not about stating that three workshops were held, with a total of fifty people attending (outputs), but rather the result of these workshops, such as increased knowledge or increased uptake of rainwater tanks (outcomes).

Why undertake a summative evalation?

Here are some key reasons why you should undertake a summative evaluation:

  • Summative evaluation provides a means to find out whether your project has reached its goals/objectives/outcomes.
  • Summative evaluation allows you to quantify the changes in resource use attributable to your project so that you can track how you are the impact of your project.
  • Summative evaluation allows you to compare the impact of different projects and make results-based decisions on future spending allocations (taking into account unintended consequences ).
  • Summative evaluation allows you to develop a better understanding of the process of change, and finding out what works, what doesn’t, and why. This allows you to gather the knowledge to learn and improve future project designs and implementation.

 

Categories of summative evaluation


Outcome Evaluation
When Project implementation and post-project
Why To assess whether the project has met its goals, whether there were any unintended consequences, what were the learnings, and how to improve
Data type Quantitative Qualitative
Examples

Metering

Meter reading

Audits or counts

Questionnaires

Deemed Savings

Footprint Calculators

Focus Group

Storytelling / Most Significant Change

Outcome Hierarchy

Some types of summative evaluation require the collection of baseline data in order to provide a before and after intervention figures. As such, it is important to factor this into the evaluation design.

It is considered good evaluation practice to include both formative and summative evaluation.

 
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case study

What is the Toolbox?

The toolbox aims to provide a one-stop-site for the evaluation of community sustainability engagement projects that aim to change household behaviours. Through the toolbox you can learn how to conduct your own evaluation of a behaviour change project using the guides and templates provided.

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Why Evaluate?

Conducting an evaluation is considered good practice in managing a project.

The monitoring phase of project evaluation allows us to track progress and identify issues early during implementation, thus providing and opportunity to take corrective action or make proactive improvements as required.

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City of Whitehorse City of Whitehorse
Accord