QUERI Evaluation Guide

Highlighting best practices for conducting high-quality evaluations

Evaluation is a crucial step in determining whether programs and policies were implemented as intended, with an eye towards assessing the timeline for implementation, effectiveness, impact, and ultimately, sustainability. The VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) Center for Evaluation and Implementation Resources (CEIR) developed the QUERI Evaluation Guide to highlight best practices for conducting high-quality evaluations. Designed to support the development, planning, and implementation of rigorous evaluations, the guide provides references, examples, and targeted materials that may be used side-by-side in designing an evaluation.

The Evaluation Guide is designed to be used by persons interested in all phases of evaluation, from how to design and carry out an evaluation, to how interpret the results. Although the information presented in this guide is based on expert best practice recommendations, it is not intended to be a stand-alone resource. Instead, users are encouraged to apply the information in this guide while also seeking outside consultation with persons that have experience in designing and executing evaluations, ideally in the settings in which new evaluations are to be developed.

The primary audience for this guide includes VA employees, investigators, and leaders; however, much of the content can also apply to evaluation work conducted by other federal agencies and health care organizations.