Chapter 1: Introduction Who is the book for? What do you need to be able to carry out an evaluation? Evaluation research Small-scale evaluation research The literature search The Internet Using the book A note on ′Tasks′ Chapter 2: Evaluation: The What and the Why What is evaluation? Why evaluate? Evaluation and social research What do they think they want? What are they going to find credible? Chapter 3: The Advantages of Collaboration Stakeholders Other models of involvement Using consultants Persuading others to be involved When is some form of participatory evaluation indicated? Chapter 4: Evaluation Designs Different approaches to evaluation Needs assessment Outcome evaluation Process evaluation Combining process and outcome approaches Formative and summative evaluation Efficiency evaluation Reviews Program monitoring Theory-based evaluation An interim summing up Chapter 5: Designing Your Evaluation Reviewing the ′literature′ Research questions Methods of data collection Data quality Sampling Prespecified and emergent designs Doing a shoe-string evaluation Chapter 6: Ethical and Political Considerations Ethical issues The problem of unintended consequences Evaluations involving children and other vulnerable populations Ethical issues in online research Ethical boards and committees The politics of evaluation Chapter 7: Practicalities Time budgeting Gaining access Getting organized Getting help and support Chapter 8: Dealing with the Data Coding data Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data Chapter 9: Communicating the Findings Evaluation reports Facilitating the implementation of evaluation findings Chapter 10: Taking it further Further reading Postscript Appendix A: Chapter Tasks Appendix B: Simple Evaluations

A masterfully written text making complex issues approachable and very workable! Robson’s personable style as if engaged in a conversation with the reader entices and enlightens. It is rare to find a text that to such an extent combines user-friendliness and an engaging style without compromising scientific stringency, ethics or practical usefulness and common sense. This is indeed a treasure trove for students and professionals of any kind and everywhere whose study or work involves people in groups and organisations in need of development, change or just a healthy reality check on how their organisation is doing.