From Insights to Action: Using evaluation results to inform decision-making

This presentation will address the critical link between data and decision-making processes by exploring the need to take crucial actions to collect and identify essential data and leverage that data effectively to inform the development and implementation of strategies. The goal is to empower all audiences, evaluators and decision-makers in particular, to explore strategies that promote the use of data while amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups. 

Understanding the significance of data is crucial as it serves as a strategic compass for optimizing resources, enhancing effectiveness, and achieving desired outcomes of programs, initiatives, and policies. Conversely, the absence of data and ineffective evaluation practices can lead to decision-making that is detrimental to the target populations we aim to help or issue areas we aim to address. To illustrate this, we will explore several real-world case studies, including violence prevention and public health programs. For example, we will delve into the "Scared Straight" violence prevention program, which was implemented for over 30 years despite data demonstrating its harmful outcomes on at-risk youth.

This raises the following questions: Why do we persist in developing and investing in programs despite evidence demonstrating their ineffectiveness and harmful impact on target groups? And what strategies can be employed to address this pressing issue? 

This presentation will discuss five strategies to promote data-driven decision-making and help foster a culture where data is not just received but actively sought and effectively utilized. Addressing biases is the first strategy that will be discussed. Identifying and addressing biases is crucial because bias leads us to interpret data that may not accurately reflect reality or provide a complete picture of a situation. Certain biases even cause us to seek out or disproportionately value information that confirms our knowledge and experiences rather than considering all available evidence equitably, further impeding the use of data in decision-making. 

Join me in this presentation to explore case studies and learn about the five strategies that will empower you to promote data-driven decision-making.