Evaluating public engagement: Some lessons from the Manchester Beacon

Suzanne Spicer, Social Responsibility Manager, The University of Manchester

1. Have clear aims and objectives

Evaluation plan: From Supermarkets to Sewers

AIM: What I want to achieve To promote healthy eating by explaining how the body digests the food we eat. OBJECTIVES: What I need to do to achieve my aim To explain how the human digestive system works. To develop an understanding of the importance of eating 5 fruit and vegetables a day. To run 40 shows for schools and 20 shows for families. EVALUATION QUESTIONS: What I want to know Do young people understand how we digest our food? Do young people understand the importance of eating a healthy diet? How may shows were performed? How many people attended the shows? How could we improve the show? METHODOLOGY: Which strategy I will use Audience: school children, children with families, teachers, parents/carers, staff delivering the show. A baseline will be established as part of the in-depth interviews – questions asked before seeing the show and then questions asked afterwards. DATA COLLECTION: Which data collection technique(s) I will use The 3 interactive questions will be built into the show and asked at each performance. In-depth interviews will be held with a selection of schools and family groups as well as staff debriefing meetings at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the scheduled run of shows.

2. Keep it simple

3. Have a bottom line

4. Ask the right questions

Asking questions

1. To what extent do you think PCR techniques have revolutionised forensic archaeology?

2. Would you agree with the UK’s leading academics that people who study physics are more intelligent than those who don’t?

3. Why did you come to the event today and what did you think of it?

4. Will you visit again?

5. What do you earn?

5. Be creative!

6. Remember the unexpected

7. Critical reflection

What worked well? Why? What did not work well? Why not? What will I do the same next time? What will I do differently next time?

In conclusion …

1. Plan and develop your evaluation at the start

2. Keep it simple and achievable

3. Take a people-centred approach

4. Identify a core of consistent data

5. Develop an ethos of reflective practice and learn from your successes

and failures

NCCPE http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/how/guides/evaluation/resources Case studies http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/how/case-studies What is public engagement? http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/what Who are the public? http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/what/who-are-the-public What activities are involved? http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/what/activities How measure the impact? http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/what/measuring-impact RCUK Evaluation Guide http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/publications/evaluationguide.pdf Developing an evaluation plan, The University of Manchester http://www.engagement.manchester.ac.uk/resources/guides_toolkits/Writing-an-evaluation-plan-for-PE.pdf Inspiring Learning for All http://www.inspiringlearningforall.gov.uk/toolstemplates/