Reflective Writing in Evaluation

Reflect, Refine, Repeat

In formative evaluation, reflective writing can be a powerful tool not just for evaluators, but also for staff and stakeholders involved in any project or program. This practice can serve well in change management and education processes, enabling a deeper understanding of both outcomes and the processes surrounding existing practices.

Reflective writing encourages individuals to think critically about their work, fostering deeper learning from each project. By reflecting on what happened and analyzing their reactions and thoughts, individuals can gain insights that go beyond surface-level observations, leading to a richer understanding of the project's impact and effectiveness.

Steps in Reflective Writing

1. Description of Experience: Begin with a clear description of the event or situation. For organizations, this might involve the rollout of a new database or a specific data collection initiative.

2. Personal Reflection: Engage in introspection about the experience. This includes thoughts and feelings from various perspectives – be it staff, stakeholders, or evaluators.

3. Analysis: Delve deeper, examining why things happened the way they did, linking theory to practice, and comparing experiences to derive meaningful insights. The aim is to analyze how to grow and move forward from the existing experience.

4. Conclusions: From the analysis, draw insights or lessons learned. What can be gleaned about the organization's data practices, and how do these insights inform future strategies?

5. Future Actions: Based on reflections, outline how this experience will shape future actions, decisions, or policy changes in the organization. What tools can be helpful if implemented or used differently?