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The HEAT Service and database supports members to streamline data capture for activities and interventions, track the counterfactual and monitor progress towards objectives and targets.
- Evaluation & Tracking
- Recording & Monitoring
Recording Activities and Interventions
The Activity record is the foundation of the HEAT System. This record type ties together all data that will ultimately be used for evaluation, including evaluation plans, monitoring data and student-level data relating to changes in intermediate and longer-term outcomes.
We provide tools and dashboards to support members to link together the data they have collected for their Activities, ensuring data collection is as complete and accurate as possible.
Streamline data capture
To help members record the data that is necessary for evaluation as easily as possible, HEAT provides tools supporting seamless data capture.
The Event Programmes Tool allows members to create bespoke online application forms which can then be shared with potential participants to sign up for an event. Automated emails and application management functionality supports members to capture detailed, high quality data and streamlines the process of creating and linking records within the database. It includes the option to work with referees to verify application information via a Referee Portal.
The Survey Tool enables members to create data capture forms and questionnaires that can be linked to Activities, Students and Institution records for evaluation purposes. These surveys can be distributed to any target audience as required and their results exported for further analysis.
Tracking the counterfactual
We have developed specific fields on our database to allow our members to record and monitor data for non-participating comparison or control groups students. The outcomes for these students, including those provided through our HEAT Track, can then be compared with those for participants, as part of a more robust evaluation design.
In the context of educational interventions, it can be challenging to collect data for non-participating students who are similar in their characteristics to a carefully targeted participant group. HEAT have a range of resources providing guidance on selecting and collecting data for comparator groups to support the membership to reach the most robust methods possible within their context.
“For strong Type 2 and for all Type 3 evaluations, you want to have a counterfactual or comparator to establish the impact of your intervention or activity above what might otherwise have occurred.”
Office for Students Access and participation standards of evidence, February 2019
Monitoring progress
Monitoring data ensures that the data being captured for evaluation is fit for purpose and is therefore crucial for successful evaluation. At HEAT, we have developed a dashboard designed to help our members with instant analytics on data recorded on the database.
To monitor progress made towards evaluation, the dashboard visualises data on Activities, alongside any participant and control/comparison groups eligible for the HEAT Track, their beneficiary Institutions, and associated Surveys and Evaluation Plans assigned to these Activities.
The dashboard also provides the arrival times for outcome data provided through the HEAT Track to enable members to estimate when data will be available and anticipate when any evaluation reports will be ready to disseminate.
Additionally, monitoring data recorded on the database can be exported from the system, and is included in a number of monitoring reports to further support your delivery and evaluation.
Next Evaluation Stage
Analysing Impact
Track individuals and explore the impact of activities and interventions on school exam attainment, higher education progression and employment outcomes.
