Evaluation & research
How to ask honest questions about whether your work is working, and answer them without a PhD.
Poor Economics
Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo · book
two nobel economists on what randomized evidence actually shows about fighting poverty; a model for testing what helps instead of assuming.
The Craft of Research
Booth, Colomb, Williams, et al. · book
the classic on turning a vague hunch into a real question you can actually answer; where to start before you collect a single number.
How to Measure Anything
Douglas Hubbard · book
a practical argument that the 'intangible' outcomes people say can't be measured usually can; useful the next time a funder asks for proof.
Research Methods Knowledge Base
William Trochim, Conjointly · site
a free, plain-english textbook on sampling, surveys, and study design; the reference to keep open when you're planning an evaluation.
Our World in Data
Our World in Data · site
clear, sourced charts on how the world is actually changing; ground your claims in evidence instead of vibes.