Evaluation of Public Engagement

Successful engagement with the public can benefit research, researchers and the public – but how do you go about demonstrating this change? Evaluation of engagement doesn’t just help us demonstrate the value of our PE initiatives but can help bring us closer to our audiences by giving the public a strong clear voice.

This workshop will guide you through the best evaluation processes showing you When, Why and crucially How to use evaluation to give you reliable and clear data. Demonstrate success to funders; record Impact for REF; learn how to improve your processes and have a better understanding of the people you are connecting with.

Objectives

Following this workshop, you should be able to:

• Understand the purposes, uses and limitations of evaluation

• Apply event-appropriate evaluation methods in multiple scenarios

• Prepare useful, answerable and relevant evaluation questions

• Devise and deliver your own evaluation plan

• Interpret and report evaluation data

Registration

A limited number of external places have been opened for this workshop. If you wish to attend this event please contact Michael Hinton for more information. The event is running on a cost share model and places are charged, Michael will be able to give you an idea of the cost.

Trainer Bio

Jamie is an award-winning freelance science communicator and engagement professional. He has delivered training around the world, from skyscrapers of Hong Kong to tents in the African bush. Additionally, having had four years’ experience as the central PE lead for the University of Glasgow he has worked on improving the reach, profile and impact of research engagement in almost every academic discipline.

He was named as one of the “100 leading practising scientists in the UK” by the Science Council and as one of the “175 Faces of Chemistry” by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He won the International 3 Minute Thesis Competition and Famelab Scotland. @jamiebgall

Main Content Sections

The workshop is designed to have lots of opportunity for debate, discussion and activity. Starting with an introduction to the topics participants will have the opportunity to see some best (and worst) practise examples with activities designed to give a practical working knowledge of evaluation processes.

1. When and Why to evaluate

Short introduction looking at when and when not to evaluate and what you can hope to get from it.

2. Clarifying objectives

How to crystallise your engagement objectives into clear and monitorable outputs and outcomes.

3. Evaluation methods and tools

Exploring the various methods for audience data capture along with the advantages and limitations of each.

4. Short term Vs Long term

Exploring how to carry on the dialogue beyond the interaction window and track long term change.

5. Question preparation

i) What to ask: looking at how to turn engagement objectives into evaluation questions

ii) How to ask it: Looking at phrasing and format of questions

6. Answer Interpretation

Handling quantitative and qualitative data and using it to create a constructive narrative.

7. Questions, discussion and surgery

Dealing with matters arising over the day and ensuring all the submitted questions have been answered. Participants will also be invited to bring specific examples or topics for group analysis.

Registration

To register for this course or for more info please email michael.hinton@babraham.ac.uk

The workshop is running on a cost share model and places are charged. Michael will be happy to speak to you about how this will work.