Resources I recommend

Here are some of the resources I use regularly myself.

Tools

Survey Monkey

An easy-to-use online tool to create a survey and collect responses and automatically summarise the results of tick box questions. You can export results into a spreadsheet to analyse open-ended questions.
http://surveymonkey.com

Excel Pivot Tables

A quick way to summarise information in an Excel database. Once I’ve categorised the results of open-ended questions I quickly summarise the results in a Pivot Table, and then go on to create a chart. The following link shows how to create a Pivot Table.
http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/ME/mes9p4.html

Mindjet : MindManager

I use MindManager software as a creative tool to brainstorm ideas, and then as an organiser to structure them, though it has many other uses.
http://www.mindjet.com/uk/

Google Analytics

If you want to know how find people find your website, which pages they go to, where they leave, and lots more, try Google Analytics. It’s an easy-to-use, free tool.
http://www.google.com/analytics/

Websites and guides

UK Evaluation Society (UKES) : Good practice guidelines

The Library page of the UKES website includes helpful, succinct guidelines for: evaluators, commissioners, evaluation participants and self-evaluation.
http://www.evaluation.org.uk/Pub_library/Good_Practice.htm

Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)

Evaluation Support Scotland works with voluntary organisations and funders so they can measure the impact of their work. They provide practical support and access to helpful resources and tools.
http://www.evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/

Scottish Enterprise : A Positive Guide to Evaluation (pdf file: 323pp)

A comprehensive guide to using evaluation in SE and the LEC network,
presented as a toolkit of 10 steps.
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/publications/positiveguide.pdf

Plain English Campaign : The plain English guide to writing reports

“When writing reports, make your audience’s job as easy as possible. Use active verbs and short sentences and keep to the point, just as you would in any kind of writing. This guide covers the main stages of writing a report.”
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/howto.pdf