Evaluation and research…what’s the difference and why does it matter?

Is there even a clear answer? We say yes! And there are pitfalls for commissioners and those conducting evaluations if the differences are misunderstood!
In this session, Natalie Martino and Rae Fry from ARTD Consultants tease apart research and evaluation and cover the differences in purpose, processes and the end result, risks of doing one when you think you’re doing the other, and take home messages for commissioners and evaluators.
Natalie is a senior consultant and has been at ARTD for over 3 years. She has also been admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW. Natalie gained an appreciation for evaluation and program design early on in her social science and law degree at university, appreciating both the legal and social implications of policies and services. While at ARTD, Natalie has both managed and supported projects across a range of sectors, including criminal justice, education, health, Indigenous affairs, disability and aged care. Natalie is passionate about using tangible data and insight to drive decision-making and ultimately address social disadvantage.
Rae joined ARTD in 2022 after 10 years in NSW Government and NGOs. She originally came to evaluation via science, journalism, public health and policy analysis. At ARTD, Rae’s projects have spanned health, road safety and education. Rae likes the combination of analytical, practical and strategic thinking in evaluation, and the chance to learn something new in every project.
This event was organised by the NSW Regional Network of the AES