Research & Special Studies
SERVICES
Answer important questions with evidence you can use
Organizations need reliable information to understand needs, design programs, establish priorities, and respond to changing conditions.
Shaffer Evaluation Group conducts focused research and special studies that combine appropriate methods with careful attention to organizational and community context. We help partners move from a broad concern or complex question to clear findings and practical implications.
SERVICES
When a research study can help
Research may be useful when you need to:
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Better understand the needs of a population or community
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Hear directly from participants, partners, or stakeholders
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Examine an emerging issue or field of practice
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Assess organizational or system conditions
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Gather evidence before designing a program or strategic plan
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Test whether an initiative contributed to observed outcomes
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Synthesize existing knowledge for leaders or decision-makers
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Develop a credible evidence base for funding or policy decisions
SERVICES
What we provide
The methods used depend on the question, context, available evidence, and intended use of the findings. Services may include:
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Needs and community assessments
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Environmental and field scans
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Literature and evidence reviews
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Survey design and administration
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Interviews and focus groups
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Stakeholder and community consultation
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Case studies and site visits
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Document and administrative-data review
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Quantitative and qualitative analysis
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Mixed-methods research
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Randomized controlled trials
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Quasi-experimental studies
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Reports, briefs, presentations, and visual summaries
SERVICES
How we work
Frame the question
We work with partners to clarify what they need to understand, why the question matters, whose perspectives should be included, and how the findings will be used.
Gather credible evidence
We select methods suited to the question and context. When useful, we combine multiple sources of evidence to develop a more complete understanding.
Interpret and communicate
We examine patterns, limitations, and implications with care. Findings are translated into accessible products that support planning, program development, funding, policy, or organizational decisions.
FEATURED PROJECT
Building an Evaluation Framework for Turnaround Arts
Service: Program & Grant Evaluation
Portfolio: Arts & Culture
The Need
Turnaround Arts was expanding from an initial pilot into a national arts-integration initiative serving approximately 49 schools. Program leaders needed a coherent framework for studying implementation, monitoring fidelity to the program model, and examining academic, school-reform, and climate indicators over time.
SEG’s Role
Under contract to Americans for the Arts, SEG worked with program staff to develop a logic model, evaluation framework, sampling strategy, and comprehensive three-year evaluation plan. We also created data-collection tools, including a School Profile, Pillars Self-Assessment, Teacher Survey, and Standardized Data Report.
How the Work Was Used
The resulting framework gave Turnaround Arts a common structure for studying implementation across a growing network of schools. It translated the initiative’s pillars and performance standards into defined measures and practical tools for future data collection, analysis, and learning.
SERVICES
Research across four portfolios
Arts & Culture
Study arts participation, arts education, arts and health, creative placemaking, cultural ecosystems, grantmaking, and the contributions of creative work to people and communities.
K-12 Education
Conduct needs assessments, climate studies, education research, surveys, program studies, and rigorous investigations of teaching, learning, student support, and school improvement.
Higher Education
Examine student experiences, access, advising, persistence, workforce preparation, institutional change, faculty development, and other questions facing colleges and universities.
Tribal Communities
Design research in consultation with Tribal and Native-serving partners, with attention to community priorities, context, participation, interpretation, and appropriate communication of findings.
Bring us your question
If your organization is trying to understand a need, experience, outcome, system, or emerging opportunity, we can help define a feasible and credible study.
Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.