Resource Materials from 2009 American Evaluation Association Workshop Evaluating Complex System Interventions

Beverly Parsons from InSites and Meg Hargreaves of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. conducted a one day workshop November 11, 2009 at the American Evaluation Association annual meeting in Orlando, FL. The workshop was designed to help participants learn to (a) differentiate three types of system dynamics within complex systems, their interventions, and their context; (b) identify the fundamental paradigms under-girding an intervention, the complex system(s) into which it is being introduced, and the broader context; (c) align the focus, purpose, and design of an evaluation with the dynamics and paradigm of an intervention, the complex system(s) into which it is being introduced, and the broader context; and (d) apply system dynamics and recognition of fundamental system paradigms to the evaluation of complex system interventions in which participants are involved.

The resources below were used at the workshop:

Workshop Learning Outcomes and Agenda .doc

Evaluating Complex System Interventions PowerPoint presentation .ppt

Glossary of Terms and References .pdf

Concepts from Complexity Science .pdf

Questions that Matter .pdf

Matching An Evaluation to the Dynamics of a Complex System and the Nature of the Intervention .pdf

Evaluating Patterns of Change in Complex Systems: Strengthening Families Example .pdf

Learning Through Engineering Design and Practice (LEAP) Example .pdf