Checklist for appraising publications and reports of evaluations

Based on: Critical appraisal for public health: A new checklist; the learning outcomes of the Evaluation of Interventions module taught by Sridharan and colleagues in Peoples-uni; and the evaluation framework described above. This checklist should be used in association with the evaluation framework


Item on the framework for performing and appraising evaluations

Can you identify this in the evaluation?

Questions to assess the validity, completeness and context of the evaluation.

Define the purpose of the intervention or policy being evaluated

Asking the right question

Can you identify the question being asked of the programme, and is it defined appropriately for the context of the programme and its evaluation?

Identifying mechanisms


Have the mechanisms for change as a result of the programme been identified or hypothesized and do they take account of the dynamics of the complexity of the programme and its evaluation?

Defining expected outcomes

Has the evaluation defined what “success” looks like for key stakeholders including program recipients? Have the outcomes of the programme been defined, and are they relevant to the question being asked? Do the outcomes include the OECD criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact? Do the outcomes encompass other potentially relevant criteria, such as equity?

Measure and understand process and outcome



Collecting data


Is the programme description sufficient and does it include what supports and structures are needed? Have appropriate data to describe the programme and its outcomes been collected and are there biases in the data collection methods?

Analysing data

Have the data analysis methods been appropriately described and applied?

Appraising the data

Are the evaluation methods appropriate for the question and the context of the evaluation?

Has the relationship between the purpose of the intervention and the data needed for an evaluation been presented?

Have the resource and cost implications of implementing the intervention and cost-effectiveness of the intervention been described?

Have other aspects of study design been described, in terms of context, sampling, comparison groups, and data collection time-points?

Have the values of the programme, such as empathy been described and included in the evaluation?

Have the OECD criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact been fully covered?

Interpreting the results

Did the evaluation help answer the question posed at the start? Did the results cover the interests of the stakeholders?

Are the results relevant and coherent and likely to be sustainable?

Are there any ethical concerns about the evaluation?

Can and should the results of the study influence practice in the population described, or in different contexts?

Synthesising the information

How do the results fit into the body of evidence previously collected?

Learning from the evaluation

Implementing the results

Has there been appropriate reflection on the results of the study and the context in which the evaluation took place?



Have the results been appropriately communicated by the evaluator to relevant stakeholders?

Is the evaluation likely to be relevant to a similar programme delivered in a different context?

Exploring inequity

Has the evaluation considered the socio-cultural diversity of the population?

Has the evaluation considered whether the programme has had an impact on equity?

Reconsidering the purpose of the evaluation

In the light of the findings, should the purpose of the evaluation have been defined differently?

Cycle of learning through feedback

Adapting to changes during the evaluation

Have any changes during the evaluation been described and accounted for? Has the opportunity been taken to adapt to changes in circumstances over time or feedback during the programme?

Have the authors considered what differences they would make to the evaluation if repeating it?




Last modified: Saturday, 22 June 2024, 8:10 AM