10.31 The extent to which the evaluation findings can be synthesised will depend on how well the evaluation has been designed and planned. Some key points to remember include:
• where an evaluation includes more than one study (for example a separate process and impact evaluation), they should be designed to complement each other;
• research questions must be clearly identified; and
• it is essential to work from an overall set of research questions rather than drawing up separate ones for each study. Consistency with external sources and previous relevant research is desirable, to enable comparison (this is discussed in more detail in Chapter 7).
10.32 Probably the most important point, though, is the necessity of planning the evaluation carefully to ensure that it can provide the necessary evidence to answer the research questions. See Chapter 5 for further guidance on planning an evaluation.