--- title: Evaluating Impact | Principles-Focused Evaluation description: This page curates Tamarack supported exploration of Principles-focused evaluation - an important contribution to the field of social innovation and community change. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Michael%20Quinn%20Patton%20Square.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en) # Evaluating Impact Principles-Focused Evaluation ## Principles-Focused Evaluation (P-FE) Many social innovators working on complex issues are driven by principles, as much as theories of change and plans. In fact, principles are often included as a central part of the strategy. Principles may: - Reflect deeply held values and beliefs about what should be done for ethical reasons (e.g., that people most affected by an intervention should be involved in selecting, designing and evaluating it, also known as 'nothing about us without us’); and, - Improve the chances of making progress on complex issues (e.g., “Housing First” vulnerable persons who find themselves homeless should be given safe and adequate housing BEFORE they can be expected to wrestle with their other vulnerabilities). Despite the importance of both types of principles in social innovation, there has been little guidance on how to evaluate their meaningfulness, application and usefulness on the ground. Until now. Principles-Focused Evaluation, the latest contribution from Michael Quinn Patton, is designed to address this gap. And it has quickly caught the attention of people from many different disciplines. **"Principles-Focused Evaluation provides a ****practical toolkit ****for guiding and shaping the urgent work of shifting institutions, systems, and cultures from maladaptive to adaptive states. […] This is a timely and important book for evaluators -- and for the social innovators, policymakers, educators, and funders with whom they work."** ***- Stephen Huddart, President and CEO, The J. W. McConnell Family Foundation***   This page captures Tamarack-supported exploration of this important contribution to the field of social innovation and community change.     ---   #### A Book Review **Consider the case for integrating P-FE into your evaluation practice** - Read Mark Cabaj’s review of Michael’s Quinn Patton’s book *Principles-Focused Evaluation: The GUIDE *entitled*:* [Principles-Focused Evaluation: Newest Approach for Evaluating Complex Change Efforts](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/principles-focused-evaluation-review?hsLang=en) ![Principles Focused Evaluation Book Cover-2.jpeg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Principles%20Focused%20Evaluation%20Book%20Cover-2.jpeg?width=150&name=Principles%20Focused%20Evaluation%20Book%20Cover-2.jpeg "Principles Focused Evaluation Book Cover-2.jpeg") #### A Webinar  **Dive deeper into P-FE and its relevance and application in a range of settings** - [Watch this webinar](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/webinar-principles-focused-evaluation?hsLang=en) with Michael Quinn Patton and Mark Cabaj discussing the key themes and concepts from the book *Principles-Focused Evaluation: The GUIDE*  ![Michael Quinn Patton Square.jpg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Michael%20Quinn%20Patton%20Square.jpg?width=150&name=Michael%20Quinn%20Patton%20Square.jpg "Michael Quinn Patton Square.jpg") #### An Evaluation Masterclass **Have your questions answered through some of the key resources created at Tamarack's Evaluation Masterclass** - From March 12-16, 2018 Michael Quinn Patton and Mark Cabaj travelled to four Canadian cities (Toronto, Regina, Calgary and Vancouver) to deliver an Evaluation Masterclass focused on Principles-Focused Design & Evaluation for Community Changemakers. - [Access the Masterclass Slidedeck](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Evaluation%20Masterclass/MQPFinalPPT.pdf?hsLang=en)  - [Read this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/One%20Day%20Events/2019%20PFE/FAQs%202.0%20with%20Michael%20Quinn%20Patton.pdf) which explores questions that continued to come up during the Masterclass sessions or that the book did not directly address. [You can find a previous version of the FAQ here](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/faq-principles-focused-evaluation?hsLang=en). ![Evaluation Masterclass Square.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Events/One%20Day%20Events/Evaluation%20Masterclass/Evaluation%20Masterclass%20Square.png?width=150&name=Evaluation%20Masterclass%20Square.png "Evaluation Masterclass Square.png") #### Additional Resources - Michael Quinn Patton’s book on principles-focused evaluation is the first ever comprehensive exploration of this topic in the English-speaking world. [Buy it here](https://www.guilford.com/books/Principles-Focused-Evaluation/Michael-Quinn-Patton/9781462531820). - [The Strategy Continuum](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/what-we-know-so-far-strategy-continuum?hsLang=en) is a new resource that integrates principles-based strategy and evaluation as part of broader scan of different strategies for tackling complex change initiatives. - [Read an article](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Events/One%20Day%20Events/2019%20PFE/Patton-2019-New_Directions_for_Evaluation%20RFP%20article.pdf) in which Michael Quinn Patton uses a utlization-focused, developmental, and principles-focused evaluation approach to evaluate the Woman Affirming Motherhood program. ![Apple_on_Books_in_Grass_Fruit.jpg](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hub/316071/file-2315676328.jpg?width=150&name=file-2315676328.jpg "Apple_on_Books_in_Grass_Fruit.jpg") [[![760 x 420 - Foundation Course Image](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/760%20x%20420%20-%20Foundation%20Course%20Image.png?width=760&name=760%20x%20420%20-%20Foundation%20Course%20Image.png "760 x 420 - Foundation Course Image")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/foundations-collective-impact-sylvia-cheuy?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Foundations of Collective Impact  Join Tamarack's Sylvia Cheuy, Director of Collective Impact, in this online course designed to establish a foundational understanding of the Collective Impact Framework. Learners will have the opportunity to join Sylvia for monthly small group coaching to get more personalized feedback and insight. [![Register for the Online Course](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/c8461359-3f38-4c5b-a500-0b0655f41513.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/c8461359-3f38-4c5b-a500-0b0655f41513)   [[![2020 CE Foundations 820 (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/2020%20CE%20Foundations%20820%20(1).png "2020 CE Foundations 820 (1)")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/foundations-community-engagement-online-course-lisa-attygalle?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Foundations of Community Engagement Take our new self-directed online course and build your Community Engagement toolkit at your own pace.  Hosted by Lisa Attygalle, Director of Community Engagement, the course will guide you through pre-recorded video lessons, case studies, and practical tools and resources. [![Build Your Engagement Toolkit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/4c003c2a-9491-498c-9e90-f33a8084e442.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/4c003c2a-9491-498c-9e90-f33a8084e442)   [[![2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png?width=820&name=2020%20Free%20Community%20Building%20Webinars%20820%20FB%20(1).png "2020 Free Community Building Webinars 820 FB (1)")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en#webinars) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Community Building Webinars Equip yourself for Community Change by joining us for weekly community building webinars and live podcasts [![Explore Our Weekly Webinars](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/ba1cfadd-30be-4338-812d-d62cee44c960) [[![Copy of 2021 Cameron Norman Workshop - Skinny Banner](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%202021%20Cameron%20Norman%20Workshop%20-%20Skinny%20Banner%20.png?width=1500&name=Copy%20of%202021%20Cameron%20Norman%20Workshop%20-%20Skinny%20Banner%20.png "Copy of 2021 Cameron Norman Workshop - Skinny Banner")](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/2021-designing-whats-next-workshop-series?hsLang=en) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Designing For What's Next The Designing for What's Next webinar and workshop series is aimed at practitioners looking to understand how to best design their organizations, their strategies, and shape their communities for what is to come as we encounter the changes that emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. 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Topics include Ending Working Poverty, Governments and Communities Ending Poverty, and Big Ideas for Ending Poverty. Through this course, you'll be guided through reflective questions and exercises that will help you make the most of the course materials and content. This course is designed to help you learn at your own pace as you advocate for and advance high-impact ending poverty pathways in your community. 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Join Jean-Marie Chapeau & explore the different types of participatory evaluation, and what it means at the level of community-based work. [![Learn more](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/d091c26a-6daf-4622-9e6b-9c044eb8429c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/d091c26a-6daf-4622-9e6b-9c044eb8429c) ](https://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/adaptive-leadership-masterclass?hsLang=en) #### Subscribe. Be in the know. Get the latest updates about community change and building vibrant communities. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=en) ![Icon_Learning_Resources.png](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Headshots/Mark%20Cabaj%20Circle.png) #### Evaluating Impact The Learning Centre's Evaluating Impact Idea Area is curated by Mark Cabaj. 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