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Evaluation |
Broadening
Participation in Biological Monitoring: |
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· Updating objectives. · Incorporating new information, contextual circumstances, funding, or participants. · Shifting the allocation of resources or focus of efforts. · Improving efficiencies. · Documenting accomplishments. · Determining what worked and what did not. · Creating an institutional memory. · Sustaining confidence in the credibility of the data. To meet these evaluation objectives, participants might ask themselves the following questions: · Is the chosen participatory approach the best way to meet identified needs for biodiversity information and other project goals? · Should the project be discontinued at some point, and if so when or under what circumstances? · Is the documented project plan adequate and useful? · Do project monitoring goals or targeted indicators need to be altered? · Were any contextual considerations overlooked? · Is the organizational structure of the project meeting the needs of the participants and achieving the goals of the project? · Does the project adequately represent all interested stakeholders and have a sufficient number of participating individuals? · Are the cooperating parties communicating and making decisions well? · Are participants’ needs and expectations being met? Are there any difficulties with sustaining involvement and commitment? Is the project stagnating or becoming inflexible? · Are the participants finding the experience personally rewarding? · Have participant skills and expertise been appropriately matched to tasks? · Are resources being budgeted and used efficiently? Are additional resources needed to achieve the goals? · Is the project being conducted in a safe manner? · Are training, field procedures, logistical arrangements, and support activities adequate? · Are the sampling design and protocols adequate and appropriate? · Are the data valid and of consistently high quality? · Are data being analyzed correctly and are results being interpreted collaboratively? · Are results being disseminated in a manner that rewards participation and influences decision- making? · Are accomplishments being achieved in a timely manner? · How can the evaluation process itself be improved? · How can lessons learned be communicated and applied to other projects? · What are the plans for accomplishing needed revisions? · How can the project be made more rewarding for all concerned? Answers to these questions can be either quantitative (for instance, numerically-scored questionnaires) or qualitative (such as group discussions). Either way, results that are recorded, summarized, and documented can be more easily incorporated into revision plans. Where controversies arise about the results of evaluation or needed changes, participants will need to use their growing communication and decision-making skills to achieve suitable resolutions. Scheduling periodic reviews of the monitoring plan, and who will perform them, improves the likelihood that they will be conducted when needed. All aspects of the monitoring plan need not necessarily be reviewed at the same time, by the same individuals, or at the same intervals. Participants might wish to tailor reviews to anticipated need for periodic revision of various components of the monitoring plan. Regardless of these considerations, occasionally reviewing the whole plan provides perspective on how well the various components are interacting and whether the relative effort dedicated to each aspect of the project is appropriate. Independent reviewers who do not have a vested interest in the project can assist the review process by providing an outside perspective and by addressing issues that participants might find controversial or hard to discuss honestly. Outside reviewers also lend credibility to the project. Scientists or government researchers can recommend independent reviewers. Action plan for revisions—Lastly, evaluating and reviewing the monitoring plan and how well the project is functioning is inadequate unless needed changes are identified and a plan to achieve the changes is implemented. If any or all participants were not involved in developing the monitoring project plan (or portions thereof) their involvement in the evaluation process will enable them to become more familiar with the plan and gain a new or expanded interest in the project’s success.
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