# Types of Evaluation

![Source: Innoweave webinar on Developmental Evaluation, SiG at Waterloo Here to There Consulting Inc. https://mcconnell.app.box.com/s/bun8rkfbx91dbmkf00c7 ](https://3096219282-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LaRNBxYCwJtHxSBVQL5%2F-LhuO9UQu18e7tfE2LlS%2F-LhuUzSDXr2aDLWs3ZaW%2FScreen%20Shot%202019-06-21%20at%2010.45.10%20AM.png?alt=media\&token=fd92cbef-484a-423c-a2a2-fbab1d1ad0ba)

## Developmental

Developmental evaluation (DE) is a relatively new evaluation methodology that helps to understand the activities of a program within a complex, changing environment (rather than as a fixed evaluation plan with a linear, predictive logic model). It is focused on real-time learning and collection of feedback that informs the ongoing design and implementation of an initiative. In this way, it is focused more on strategic learning than measuring against a fixed outcome.

For a social innovation lab context, we suggest using elements of – or building on – developmental evaluation as a methodology. Given that a social innovation lab focuses on understanding a complex problem, iterating and experimenting (in the form of prototypes) towards a solution, and then iterating those solutions to scale, we will focus on prototype evaluation as a way to measure the change you want to bring about.

DE is a **contingency-based evaluation**: This type of evaluation is where we match the evaluation process and design to the nature of the situation.

According to Michael Quinn-Patton, there are five types of Developmental Evaluation:

1. **Ongoing development** in adapting a project, program, strategy, policy, or other innovative initiative to new conditions in complex dynamic systems.
2. **Pre-formative development** of a potentially scalable innovation to the point where it is ready for traditional formative and summative evaluation. 
3. **Adapting effective general principles to a new context** as ideas and innovations are taken from elsewhere and developed within a new setting.
4. **Major systems change and cross-scale** developmental evaluation, providing feedback about how major systems change is unfolding, evidence of emergent tipping points, and/or how an innovation is or may need to be changed and adapted as it is taken to scale. 
5. **Developing a rapid response** in the face of a sudden major change or a crisis, like a natural disaster or financial melt-down.

It is important to distinguish developmental evaluation from other forms of evaluation: formative and summative evaluation.

## Formative

Formative evaluation (sometimes called internal evaluation) is evaluation that helps to improve an initiative. It generally takes place before or during an initiative to help to refine a program’s design or implementation. It is generally used for new programs, or progress monitoring of ongoing programs.

## Summative

Summative evaluation generates insights about the merit or worth of an initiative, where findings are used to help decide whether a program should be continued or modified. It is generally used at the end of an initiative to review long-term progress on program goals and objectives.