How numbers and cost data tell stories

Chair(s)

• 

  Brian Yates, PhD

  Professor
  American University
  Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Location: Grand Ballroom 2

This paper session provides a variety of examples of what might be called Adventures in Cost-Inclusive Evaluation. Abstracts for the individal presentations provide more in-depth descriptions; the following are only very brief summaries that undoubtedly misses key points in each! The fault is only that of myself, the paper session chair (Brian Yates, Ph.D.)

Ville Vehkasalo, Ph.D. 's work attempts to disentangle from more general trends the effects of an EU-funded multi-million € project to enhance international tourism in Lapland.

Nadini Persaud, Ph.D., CPA, CGA, convincingly portrays the value-added of including costs in evaluations, introducing evaluators and decision-makers to key concepts in cost evaluation and management.

Cagney Stigger-Morns, MPH, and colleagues inspires evaluation design that heightens attention to and understanding of how context can and need to be considdered in cost-inclusive evaluation, particularly Social Return On Investment (SROI).

Finally, Nishank Varshney (soon to be Ph.D!) explores in detail how different definitions and quantitative approaches to Home Visiting program benefits can affect findings of Cost-Benefit Analyses, focusing on Social Impact Bonds and Data-Drive Philanthropy.

Questions will be entertained following each presentation. Timing permitting, a general discussion between presenters and participants will highlight how qualitative and quantitative stories in evaluation are make more complete and conclusive when costs, and monetary outcomes, are included.

Presentations:

• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM ET

  Effects of EU-funded tourism promotion in the Cap of the North
  

  Presenter: Ville Vehkasalo, PhD (he/him/his) – National Audit Office of Finland

  Author: Ville Vehkasalo, PhD (he/him/his) – National Audit Office of Finland
• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM ET

  The Power of Story: The Value-Added from Conducting Cost-Inclusive Evaluations— How Cost Numbers Can Enhance Strategic Managerial Decision-Making
  

  Presenter: Dr. Nadini Persaud, Pd.D., CPA, CGA – The University of the West Indies, Barbados

  Author: Dr. Nadini Persaud, Pd.D., CPA, CGA – The University of the West Indies, Barbados
• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM ET

  Using Evaluation to Communicate the Broader Value of Investment within a Rural Environment
  

  Presenter: Cagney Stigger-Morns, MPH – CDC

  Author: Cagney Stigger-Morns, MPH – CDC

  Author: Amena Abbas, MPH – ASRT, Inc.

  Author: Amma Boakye, MPH – CDC

  Author: Kelsi O. Jackson, MPH (she/her/hers) – Cherokee Federal

  Author: Shaquira Robinson, MPH – ASRT
• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM ET

  Whose Benefits Matter?: Case of Cost-Benefit Analysis of Home Visiting Programs
  

  Presenter: Nishank Varshney, PhD (he/him/his) – University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute

  Author: Nishank Varshney, PhD (he/him/his) – University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute