FER Q & A

1. FER Q & A Answers to last minute questions you may have about writing Final Evaluation Reports (FER) for your 2007-2010 project

2. I have never written a FER – where can I find resources to help me? TCEC website has: • Materials from the regional trainings • Recorded webinar • Sample evaluation reports http://tobaccoeval.ucdavis.edu 530-752-9951 tobaccoeval@ucdavis.edu

3. What do I need to get started? • Your plan • Rating form in Tell Your Story • CX results • Evaluation write-ups • Progress reports etclaims.co.uk/tag/compensation/

4. Who is my audience? • Project staff • Stakeholders • Other TC projects • TCEC reviewers • Other end-users (policymakers, etc.)

5. What’s a good writing process? Follow rating form sections • A word on “Evaluation Methods” section: • Intro paragraph: explain overall design • You may want to separate process and outcome evaluation • Describe sampling, data collection, and analysis for EACH evaluation activity

6. How do I report on multi-site evaluation? • Describe overall approach • Wherever approach and results differed by site (intervention and/or data collection activities), briefly describe those differences http://daveferguson.typepad.com/daveferguson/multisite_church/

7. What should I do if an activity was in the plan but we didn’t do it? • Happens with intervention and evaluation activities • Address it, don’t ignore it • Explain situation • Discuss deliverables with PC • Mention any substitute deliverables

8. What if we did an additional evaluation activity that was not in the plan? • Report on what you can given your resources • Note that it is additional to the original plan • Explain reasons why not fully carried out/ analyzed

9. How do I report negative results? • Data that showed no or negative change • Objective not achieved • Same as positive results – objectively • Report the data • Provide possible explanations and make recommendations

10. What should I do if I lost some data? • Don’t guess or “try” to remember • Explain context and steps taken to remedy the situation • Mention under data collection instruments’ and procedures’ limitations www.agdesktop.com/lost_1.htm

11. Should I include contact information of people we interviewed or surveyed? • No, FERS are public documents! • Instead, use position/ role of individuals • OK to mention names of events, businesses, venues, organizations that adopt policies http://www.rncasemanager.com/email_images/privacy_NL0409_1.jpg

12. Can I write a combined report for all objectives? • No, each objective needs its own report • Each report is a deliverable http://fuggedaboutit.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/businessman-looking-at-giant-book.jpg

13. Does the project director need to get involved in the FER writing? • Yes, collaboration between project directors and evaluators is imperative istockphoto.com

14. What is the difference between a brief and final evaluation report? Brief reports: • Are not scored • Need less detail • Think “essential” • Think “to the point” • Think “most relevant”

15. Reports are due June 30!!! If you still need advice, give us a call 530-752-9951