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This module will cover the main theories and methods of evaluating health and development interventions. The simple question of whether an intervention ‘works’ or not will be expanded to: for whom does it work? when and where? how? and why? The complexity of real world intervention implementation will be explored. Building on core concepts of scientific research, study design and critical appraisal taught in the core modules, you will learn how to choose appropriate methods of monitoring and evaluation. You will gain an understanding of cutting-edge methods in evaluation science including: individual and community-based trials; process evaluations including assessment of implementation strength and context-specific mechanisms; systematic reviews and meta-analysis; and realist evaluation and realist synthesis.

Students will gain practical skills that will be very useful for careers in monitoring and evaluation in non-governmental and governmental organisations, and academic and non-academic research related to evaluating interventions. The knowledge of programme monitoring and evaluation that the students will gain will allow a greater understanding of the current state of evidence-based policy making which should also be a distinct advantage in many other careers related to global health and development, for example with governments, donors, think-tanks, United Nations organisations and the World Health Organisation.

The module is open to students on the MSc/PG Dip Global Health and Development, and other IGH and ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº MSc/PG Dip students, Taster course and Short course students, subject to availability.

You will have taught lectures combined with seminars and practical sessions, working through examples of previous large-scale evaluations including those undertaken by the module tutor and colleagues at the Institute for Global Health. The module is designed to link well with other practical modules such as Research in Action: the Quantitative Approach, Economic Evaluation in Healthcare, and Health management; planning and programme design, and is timetabled to enable students to take all four of these optional modules.

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Selected Reading List:

• Pawson R. (2013) The Science of Evaluation: A Realist Manifesto. London: Sage.
• Prost A, Colbourn T, Seward N, Azad K, Coomarasamy A, Copas A, Houweling T, Fottrell E, Kuddus A, Lewycka S, et al. (2013) ‘Women’s groups practising participatory learning and action to improve maternal and newborn health in resource-limited settings: systematic review and meta-analysis’ Lancet, vol. 381, pp. 1736–1746. 3.
• Victora CG, Black RE, Boerma JT, et al. (2011) ‘Measuring impact in the Millennium Development Goal era and beyond: a new approach to large-scale effectiveness evaluations’, Lancet, vol 377, pp. 85-95.
• Grant A, Treweek A, Dreischulte T. (2013) ‘Process evaluations of cluster-randomised controlled trials of complex interventions: a proposed framework for design and reporting’, Trials vol 14:15
• Colbourn T, Nambiar B, Costello A. (2013) ‘ MaiKhanda - Final evaluation report. The impact of quality improvement at health facilities and community mobilisation by women's groups on birth outcomes: an effectiveness study in three districts of Malawi’ . pp. 1-364. London: The Health Foundation.