FAQs
Cobblestone is a boutique firm that has focused exclusively on education evaluation and applied research for nearly two decades. That means every project is led by senior evaluators with deep subject matter knowledge. We work primarily with education-focused organizations, community colleges, universities, and federally funded programs, which means we understand the specific accountability requirements, stakeholder dynamics, and reporting expectations you are navigating. We bring the rigor of larger firms with the responsiveness of a close, dedicated partner.
Cobblestone is a boutique firm that has focused exclusively on education evaluation and applied research for nearly two decades. That means every project is led by senior evaluators with deep subject matter knowledge. We work primarily with education-focused organizations, community colleges, universities, and federally funded programs, which means we understand the specific accountability requirements, stakeholder dynamics, and reporting expectations you are navigating. We bring the rigor of larger firms with the responsiveness of a close, dedicated partner.
Program evaluation is the systematic process of assessing whether a program is working and how well. Using social science research methods, evaluators collect and analyze data to determine a program's merit, track its implementation, and measure outcomes. For organizations running funded programs, evaluation provides the evidence base needed to improve services, satisfy funder requirements, and make the case for continuation or expansion.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.