Introduction
Research and evaluation play an important role in supporting government agencies in making optimal policy, programmatic, and operational decisions. This tool is designed to support Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) lead agencies in strengthening their capacity to carry out and use research in decision-making.
Divided into three parts, the tool guides users through a process of reflecting on:
- their agency’s specific strengths and weaknesses within seven domains of organizational research capacity;
- setting priorities for their capacity-building efforts; and
- articulating outstanding questions the agency has about strengthening organizational research capacity.
Methods
The content of the tool builds on unpublished reviews of literature on the topic of research capacity building and self-assessment and of CCDF Lead Agencies’ operational contexts and capacity-building needs. It represents a compilation of ideas and items drawn from several diagnostic tools developed for other purposes and target audiences, with modifications made to fit the needs of CCDF Lead Agencies seeking a versatile tool that can be used for either quick reflection or for more in-depth self-assessment.
Citation
Rohacek, Monica. (2017). Research and Evaluation Capacity: Self-Assessment Tool and Discussion Guide for CCDF Lead Agencies, OPRE Report #2017-63. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.