This part of the Magenta Book is written for policy makers. Chapter 1 explains the benefits of undertaking good evaluations, and some of the difficulties that might be encountered if evaluations are not undertaken or are undertaken poorly. Chapter 2 explores the types of questions that evaluations can answer and provides an overview of the different types of evaluation that can answer these questions. It also introduces some of the issues which affect how well a policy can be evaluated and the implications this might have for the type and design of evaluation which is most appropriate. Chapter 3 considers the features of the policy itself that can affect how well the policy's impacts can be evaluated, and discusses minor adjustments which can be made to improve the chances of a good quality evaluation. Finally, Chapter 4 considers some of the practical aspects of planning an evaluation.
Chapter 1: Key issues in policy evaluation
Chapter 2: Identifying the right evaluation for the policy
Chapter 3: Building impact evaluation into policy design
Chapter 4: What practical issues need to be taken into account when designing an evaluation?