Focus Area
Curriculum | Government Funded | Higher Education | K-12 | Nonprofits | STEM
STEM
Cobblestone has evaluated STEM programs at every level, from K-12 classrooms to university research initiatives to large multi-institutional grants. We have partnered with NSF principal investigators, community colleges, and four-year universities to design and implement evaluations that build credible evidence of program impact. Our methods are matched to your program’s goals and maturity, from formative feedback in early implementation to rigorous outcome measurement in later years. We know the STEM landscape well and bring both technical expertise and practical knowledge to every project.
STEM PROJECTS
79
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PROJECTS
30+
SECURED BY OUR CLIENTS
$1,500,000
On a recent survey of our clients, 20 out of 21 respondents said that Cobblestone was successful in helping their organization secure external funding.
The Impact
The Challenge
A first-time NSF principal investigator (PI) was skeptical about the required evaluation component of the grant. Why did money need to be spent on evaluation, and what was the value of an external evaluator?
Our Solution
Over the course of five years, we worked closely with the PI to implement an evaluation that built credible evidence to show the program’s impact. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to measure changes in research productivity and created a matched student sample to examine outcomes for program participants compared to non-participating students with similar backgrounds.
Our analyses found that the program led to increased PI research productivity as well as increased likelihood of participating students enrolling in graduate school. When the PI team applied for a second round of funding, they used these results to make the case for the program's success, securing an additional $5,000,000 to continue implementation.
Case Study
Since I began working with them on my external funding projects in 2022, they have proven to be an indispensable partner in my research and program development efforts. The level of support provided by Cobblestone is truly exceptional. Throughout the duration of my projects, I have consistently received timely support and constructive feedback that has been vital in achieving the specific goals and objectives outlined in my proposals. Their commitment to project success ensures that every milestone is met with precision and professional insight.
Jeyoung Woo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Cobblestone has been an exceptional evaluation partner for our grant program. Their work reflects the highest standards of program evaluation, but their value extends well beyond producing strong annual reports. As PI/PD of a large federal grant, I have especially appreciated their strategic guidance, project management support, and thoughtful consultation, all of which have helped us stay focused on our goals and well prepared for federal reporting requirements... They are trusted partners who bring expertise, clarity, patience, and practical wisdom to complex grant-funded work.
Stuart Sidle, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology & Project Director of STEM Ready
Mercy University
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FAQs
Both use similar methods — surveys, interviews, observations, and document review — but they serve different purposes. Applied research is investigator-driven: it aims to generate knowledge in a real-world setting (e.g., schools). Evaluation is client-driven: it assesses the merit, worth, or value of a specific program to inform decisions. In federally funded projects, the two are often distinct components with separate teams, questions, and reporting lines — and for good reason, since each serves a different function.
Evaluations typically draw on a mix of quantitative data (surveys, test scores, administrative records, completion rates) and qualitative data (interviews, focus groups, observations). Most rigorous evaluations use both — a mixed-methods approach — because each type answers different questions. Quantitative data shows how much or how many; qualitative data explains why and how. Your evaluator will help you determine the right data sources based on your evaluation questions, timeline, and available resources.
A logic model is a visual representation of how your program is designed to work and how you expect it to unfold in practice — connecting inputs and activities to short-term outputs and longer-term outcomes. It makes the assumptions underlying your program explicit, which is essential for designing an evaluation: you cannot measure whether a program achieved its goals if those goals are not clearly articulated. Federal funders increasingly require logic models as part of grant applications, and evaluators use them as the backbone of evaluation planning. If you do not have one, your evaluator can help you build it.