Crafting an Effective Evaluative Research Plan Template with Examples and Best Practices

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

Creating a clear and practical evaluative research plan is essential for gathering meaningful data and making informed decisions. Whether you are assessing a program, product, or service, a well-structured plan guides your research process and ensures you focus on the right questions. This post breaks down the key components of an evaluative research plan template, offers examples, and shares best practices to help you design your own.

Detailed research plan document on desk

What Is an Evaluative Research Plan?

An evaluative research plan outlines the approach you will take to assess the effectiveness, impact, or value of a subject. It defines what you want to learn, how you will collect data, and how you will analyze the results. This plan acts as a roadmap, keeping your research focused and organized.

A strong plan answers questions like:

• What are the goals of the evaluation?

• Who are the stakeholders involved?

• What methods will you use to collect data?

• How will you analyze and report findings?

  
  

Key Elements of an Evaluative Research Plan Template

A practical template includes several core sections. Each part plays a role in clarifying your research process.

1. Purpose and Objectives

Start by clearly stating the purpose of your evaluation. What do you want to find out? Define specific objectives that break down the overall goal into measurable questions.

Example:

• Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new employee training program.

• Objectives:

- Measure changes in employee knowledge after training.

- Assess employee satisfaction with the training format.

- Identify areas for improvement in training content.

2. Research Questions

List the key questions your evaluation will answer. These should align with your objectives and guide your data collection.

Example questions:

• How much did participants learn from the training?

• Did the training improve job performance?

• What feedback do participants have about the training experience?

  
  

3. Stakeholders and Audience

Identify who will use the evaluation results. This could include project managers, funders, participants, or other decision-makers. Understanding your audience helps tailor the report and recommendations.

4. Methods and Data Collection

Describe the methods you will use to gather information. Common approaches include surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or reviewing existing data.

Example:

• Pre- and post-training surveys to measure knowledge gain.

• Interviews with a sample of participants to gather detailed feedback.

• Observation of training sessions to assess engagement.

  
  

5. Data Analysis Plan

Explain how you will analyze the collected data. Will you use statistical tests, thematic coding, or comparison against benchmarks? This section ensures you have a clear plan for turning raw data into insights.

6. Timeline and Resources

Outline the schedule for each phase of the evaluation and list the resources needed, such as personnel, tools, or budget.

7. Reporting and Use of Findings

Describe how you will share the results and how the findings will be used to improve the program or inform decisions.

Example of a Simple Evaluative Research Plan Template

| Section | Details |

|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Purpose | Evaluate customer satisfaction with a new mobile app feature |

| Objectives | Measure user satisfaction, identify bugs, and gather suggestions for improvement |

| Research Questions | Are users satisfied with the feature? What issues do they encounter? |

| Stakeholders | Product team, customer support, marketing |

| Methods | Online survey, user interviews, app usage analytics |

| Data Analysis | Quantitative analysis of survey results, thematic analysis of interview transcripts |

| Timeline | 4 weeks: 2 weeks data collection, 1 week analysis, 1 week reporting |

| Reporting | Presentation to product team, summary report for stakeholders |

Best Practices for Creating Your Evaluative Research Plan

• Be specific with objectives and questions. Clear goals prevent scope creep and keep your research focused.

• Choose methods that fit your questions. For example, use surveys for broad feedback and interviews for deeper insights.

• Engage stakeholders early. Their input can improve your plan and increase buy-in for the evaluation.

• Plan for data quality. Consider how you will ensure accurate and reliable data collection.

• Keep the timeline realistic. Allow enough time for each step, including unexpected delays.

• Use simple language. Avoid jargon so everyone involved understands the plan.

• Be flexible. Sometimes you need to adjust methods or questions based on what you learn during data collection.

  
  

Researcher writing notes on research plan

How to Use the Template Effectively

Start by customizing the template to your specific project. For example, if you are evaluating a community health program, your objectives might focus on health outcomes and participant engagement. If you are assessing a website redesign, your questions might center on usability and user satisfaction.

Test your data collection tools before full deployment to catch any issues early. For instance, pilot your survey with a small group to ensure questions are clear and responses are easy to analyze.

Regularly check progress against your timeline and adjust as needed. Keep communication open with stakeholders to share updates and gather feedback.

Final Thoughts

A well-crafted evaluative research plan template helps you stay organized and focused on what matters most. By clearly defining your purpose, questions, methods, and timeline, you increase the chances of gathering useful data that drives meaningful improvements.