RESEARCH ON EVALUATION (2019-present)
Doing evaluation differently
Recognizing that the world is constantly changing, so should the tools we use to evaluate and improve programs. An important aspect of my work is enhancing evaluation approaches. My contributions to this area include systematic reviews on how evaluation approaches – such as Evaluability Assessments and Theories of Change – have been used and how they might be done better.
Another area of my work is mainstreaming gender within evaluation. Gender norms, roles, and relations are important factors determining people’s experiences to issues programs are trying to address. The important interactions between gender and such issues mean that including a gender lens in program evaluation is crucial.
Related Publications:
Lam S, Skinner K. (2021). The use of evaluability assessments in improving future evaluations: a scoping review of 10 years of literature (2008-2018). American Journal of Evaluation. 42(4): 523-540.
Lam S. (2020). Toward learning from change pathways: reviewing Theory of Change and its discontents. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 35(2): 69535.
Lam S, Dodd W, Whynot J, Skinner K. (2019). How is gender being addressed in the international development evaluation literature? A meta-evaluation. Research Evaluation. 28(2): 158-168.