In addition to providing evaluation and research services, Rainbow Research also provides training and technical assistance to organizations seeking to build internal capacity to meet their own research needs.
Training
Rainbow works with organizations to provide training on developing
evaluation design, choosing methods, how to collect
data using specific methodologies, and how to analyze
and report data.
Depending on the audience, group size, and time allowed, trainings can be hands on, allowing participants to develop tools as part of the training, or they can be more broad and theoretical in nature.
A hands-on approach typically involves a series of trainings in which participants gain tools and return to their organization to start the evaluation process. Follow-up workshops then help participants with the next steps in the evaluation process.
Technical Assistance
For organizations
interested in doing evaluations on their own, Rainbow
works with staff one-on-one to develop logic models,
evaluation plans, and data collection tools.
Rainbow can also advise organizations on how to conduct focus groups and surveys. In some cases, Rainbow may develop an evaluation plan and conduct it in the first year, then work with organizations to continue the evaluation on their own in subsequent years.
Logic Model Development
Logic models—or program outcome models—help shape the
evaluation. By clearly articulating desired outcomes and how
they will be achieved, Rainbow works with organizations to think
about how those outcomes can be measured and what type of evaluation
will work best.
The process typically involves facilitating a meeting of a program’s key stakeholders to brainstorm about assets, inputs, planned activities, expected outputs, and outcomes.