Measuring Progress: Previewing the 2024 Survey of Federal Evaluation Officials

Recording

Overview

The Data Foundation hosted an insightful webinar unveiling key findings from "Measuring Progress: The 2024 Survey of Federal Evaluation Officials." This timely discussion explored the evolving landscape of federal evaluation capacity five years after the passage of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, and three years since the first survey conducted on federal evaluation officials in 2021. 

Data Foundation Research Fellow Steve Mumford, Ph.D., and Policy and Research Analyst Nathan Varnell shared highlights from the comprehensive survey of federal evaluation officials, moderated by Director for Evidence Capacity Sara Stefanik. The conversation delved into:

• Progress and challenges in implementing Evidence Act requirements
• Changes in evaluation influence and resource sufficiency since 2021
• Emerging trends around Learning Agendas and artificial intelligence adoption
• Recommendations for expanding federal evaluation capacity

The webinar provided valuable insights for executive branch policymakers, members of Congress, and the evaluation community on the current state of federal evaluation from the voices of evaluation officials themselves. Attendees learned about the significant progress made in agencies’ evidence capacity and how officials are feeling the impacts of sustained investments in federal evidence-building activities. 

Speakers

• Steve Mumford, Ph.D., Senior Fellow Data Foundation & Tenured Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, University of New Orleans
• Nathan Varnell, Policy and Research Analyst for Evidence Capacity, Data Foundation
• Sara Stefanik, Director, Evidence Capacity, Data Foundation (moderator)