Research and Evaluation

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OVER 30 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN PROGRAM EVALUATION

Cultural Cognition is recognized as one of the few evaluation groups in the country to have the capacity and diversity of talent within its staff to address the broad range of projects represented below. In addition, the group is valued by our clients and funders as a contributor to the larger effort of education reform.

The projects Cultural Cognition evaluates serve learners in multiple settings in both formal (K-12 and higher education) and informal education (museums, community centers, etc.). Many of these projects bring together business partners, mathematicians and scientists, policy makers, museum staff and educators, as well as the general community. This creates a high level of synergy and collaboration, which is thought necessary for both sustaining the changes already occurring, and for impacting those still in formative stages.

Several projects Cultural Cognition evaluates are considered models by funders and are under study for replication on a larger scale. CC's evaluation is central to establishing the effects of these projects and their significance for creating long-term sustainable reform.

Who We Are

  • A national leader in program evaluation since 1990
  • CC associates bring their expertise in:
    • the arts, sciences, and mathematics
    • child and adult development
    • special education
    • educational environments
    • organizational development
    • systemic reform
    • museum studies and education
    • higher education
  • Over 600 program evaluations
  • Recipient of NSF/AERA Evaluation Training Program Fellowship

Approach

  • Qualitative and quantitative approaches
  • Mixed methods
  • Client-centered process guided by an evaluation matrix
  • Utilization focus
  • Collaboration with program staff and stakeholders

What Cultural Cognition Offers

  • Formative and summative evaluation:
    • written reports
    • presentations of findings
  • Evaluation consultation
  • Evaluation workshops
  • Program development consultation

Scope of Work

The domain of Cultural Cognition's work extends across the United States and the group has a presence at national and international meetings and conferences.

Cultural Cognition enjoys nationwide respect for its ability to evaluate diverse programs in diverse settings. CC's present evaluation activities - which include both large-scale, national-level projects involving several regional sites, as well as small-scale projects - fall loosely into the following categories:

  • arts partnerships
  • curriculum development
  • literacy programs
  • museum exhibits and programs
  • systemic reform: science and mathematics
  • professional development: science, mathematics, and history
  • teacher preparation
  • public agency education and outreach activities
  • multi-partner arts and education programs