Want Better Data? Start with the Right Questions! 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by data or unsure how to measure the real impact of your program, you’re not alone. A lot of folks jump straight into surveys or data tools without first asking the most important question: What are we trying to learn here? 

That’s where evaluation questions come in. These high-level, guiding questions help you focus your evaluation so you’re collecting the right data for the right reasons. Whether you’re preparing for the Carnegie Classification or just trying to make your program stronger, starting with clear evaluation questions is an integral first step. 

What Are Evaluation Questions, Really? 

Evaluation questions are the big-picture questions that drive your evaluation. They’re not the same as survey or interview questions, though they help you figure out what those should be. Think of them as the foundation. They tell you where to aim your efforts. 

Here’s an example: 

• Evaluation Question: To what extent did students increase their civic leadership skills after participating in the program? 

• Survey Question: How confident do you feel in your ability to lead community initiatives? 

Evaluation questions are usually tied to your program goals, logic model, or theory of change. They keep your evaluation focused on what actually matters, not just what’s easy to measure. 

Why Do Evaluation Questions Matter? 

Evaluation questions help you: 

• Clarify your focus – What are you trying to understand or improve? 

• Align with stakeholders – Funders, university leaders, and community partners all care about different things. Good questions help you speak their language. 

• Stay intentional – Instead of collecting data just to check a box, you collect data that’s meaningful and useful. 

When your evaluation questions are clear and intentional, the whole process runs smoother from your methods to your messaging. 

Types of Evaluation Questions (with Examples) 

There’s no one-size-fits-all list, but most evaluation questions fall into a few categories: 

1. Descriptive: What’s happening? 

• Who participates in community-engaged learning programs? 

• What activities are offered and how often? 

2. Process: How is it being done? 

• Was the program implemented as planned? 

• What barriers did staff face in rolling it out? 

3. Effectiveness: Is it working? 

• To what extent did students gain skills in democratic engagement? 

• Did community partners report meaningful collaboration? 

4. Impact: What changed in the long term? 

• How has the program contributed to institutional culture change? 

• What lasting benefits have community partners experienced? 

Regardless of program topic or target audience, evaluation questions can help you focus your data collection and reports. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid 

Even seasoned evaluators can stumble here. A few traps to watch for: 

• Vague questions: “Did it work?” is too broad to guide anything useful. 

• Skipping the question step: Jumping into surveys or focus groups before deciding what you want to learn. 

• Only asking what’s easy to measure: Don’t ignore the hard stuff, just find creative ways to capture it. 

• Too many questions: A handful of strong questions beats a laundry list of weak ones. 

Tips for Writing Strong Questions 

Here are some quick tips to keep your questions focused and helpful: 

• Start with your stakeholders 
  What do your funders, leaders, staff, or community partners care about? What decisions will your findings support? 

• Make it actionable 
  Could you reasonably answer the question with data you can collect? 

• Use SMART thinking 
  Make questions Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (when appropriate). 

Test it out 
Read your question out loud. Does it spark curiosity? Can you already imagine what kinds of data would help answer it? 

One Last Thing 

Strong evaluation questions are the secret to better data, better decisions, and better stories. They keep your evaluation focused on what really matters, helping you show your impact and learn as you go. 

If you’re just starting out, try jotting down one big thing you’re curious about. That’s often the seed of a great evaluation question. 

Want to go deeper? Check out the CDC’s Evaluation Questions Guide for more tips and examples.