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Reporting and Using Evaluation Results

Writing a Final Report

The product of most evaluations is a written final report. Final reports should be concise and nontechnical in nature. An executive summary, which is a condensed summary of the main points of the report, should be included with the final report. Technical material not of interest to a general audience can be included in appendices or in separate volumes. A final evaluation report should include:

• Review of the findings of previous evaluations of similar programs
• Discussion of why the evaluation was conducted and questions the evaluation sought to address
• Program description, including goals, objectives, and activities
• Explanation of the methods and the procedures undertaken to collect and analyze data, including a description of output and outcome measures and the evaluation design
• Presentation of the results
• Interpretation of the results and conclusions
• Limitations of the evaluation methodology
• Recommendations for future steps, including short- and long-term suggestions for program improvement

Learn More...

Report Formatting: Issues of Content and Graphic Design (Bureau of Justice Assistance)

Interpreting and Reporting Evaluation Findings (U.S. Department of Education)

Reporting Your Findings and Sample Outline - Final Evaluation Report (Department of Housing and Urban Development)

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