Guidance

Resources for evaluating policy in government (2025)

Updated 27 October 2025

1. Introduction to evaluation

1.1 Magenta Book, Annex A. Analytical methods for use within an evaluation

Read Annex A. Analytical methods for use within an evaluation of the Magenta Book.

This guidance contains:

• analytical methods for use within an evaluation
• theory based methods for impact evaluation
• experimental and quasi-experimental methods for impact evaluation
• methods for value-for-money evaluation
• methods for synthesis of existing evidence
• generic research methods used in both process and impact evaluation

Type of guidance: Methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Evaluators, analysts

Organisation: HM Treasury

Keywords: Analytical; impact; value-for-money

1.2 The Green Book

Read the Green Book.

Central government guidance on appraisal and evaluation.

Category: Methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Evaluators, policymakers

Organisation: HM Treasury and Government Finance Function

Keywords: Introduction; appraisal; evaluation

1.3 Good Practice Guidance

Read the Good Practice Guidelines.

This good practice guidance is for commissioners, practitioners and participants to establish good practice in the conduct of evaluation.

The guidance is underpinned by the relational and consequence theories of ethics and democratic principles and values.

Category: Overview, introductory

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Commissioners, practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: UK Evaluation Society

Keywords: Introduction; guidelines; ethics

1.4 Introduction to Evaluation in Health and Wellbeing

Read Introduction to evaluation in health and wellbeing.

This guidance aims to help public health practitioners when conducting evaluations.

This section provides an overview of what evaluation is, when it should be undertaken, and different types of evaluation. These are described in more detail on other pages.

There is also a glossary defining the important terms and a guide to other resources.

Category: Introductory

Sector: Health

Who it’s for: Evaluators, social researchers

Organisation: Public Health England

Keywords: Outcome; process; economic

An 8-step guide to better evaluation

Read the 8-step guide to better evaluation.

A series of linked blogs that identifies the key principles to successful evaluation and key considerations. The ‘how to’ evaluate covers topics such as:

• Starting early
• How long?
• What to evaluate?
• Find a control group
• Collect data
• Plagiarise

Category: Overview, introductory

Sector: Local government

Who it’s for: Commissioners, practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth

Keywords: Impact; summary; policy

1.5 Measuring wellbeing guide

Read the Measuring wellbeing guide.

Practical guidance for designing and conducting evaluations focused on wellbeing. This guidance includes:

• What is wellbeing?
• Introduction to wellbeing evaluation
• Planning your wellbeing evaluation
• Wellbeing measures and data
• Choosing wellbeing measures
• Gathering qualitative data
• Analysing and interpreting your results
• Wellbeing measures bank

Category: Overview, introductory, methodological

Sector: Wellbeing

Who it’s for: Practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Keywords: Public sector; qualitative; analysis

1.6 BIT Test & Learn Course

The Behavioural Insights Team has launched a new open enrolment Test & Learn course targeted at digital, evaluation, or project teams in national and local government who’ve been handed a test-and-learn project or have heard of test-and-learn but need help getting started.

Category: Overview, introductory

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Analysts, evaluators, project delivery, policy

Organisation: Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)

Keywords: Test & Learn, digital

2. Impact evaluation

2.1 Magenta Book: Quality in policy Impact Evaluation

Read Magenta Book: Quality in policy Impact Evaluation.

A guide for the design and assessment of impact evaluations of government policy.

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Quality in policy impact evaluation
• Chapter 3: Strong research designs in the measurement of attribution
• Chapter 4: Weaker/riskier research designs in the measurement of attribution

Category: Methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Analysts, economists, evaluators

Organisation: HM Treasury

Keywords: Impact; policy; research design

2.2 What Works for Children’s Social Care Evaluator resources

Read What Works for Children’s Social Care Evaluator resources.

A series of detailed guides and templates to support evaluators conduct robust studies. These include:

• WWCSC RCT & IPE TP Template
• WWCSC Pilot Protocol Template
• WWCSC Systematic Review Protocol Template
• WWCSC Systematic Review Report Template
• WWCSC QED Template
• REC Checklist and Application

Category: Methodological

Sector: Children and young people

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care

Keywords: Impact; randomised control trials; quasi-experimental; systematic review

2.3 What Works for Children’s Social Care Randomised Controlled Trial Statistical Analysis Guidance

Read What Works for Children’s Social Care Randomised Controlled Trial Statistical Analysis Guidance.

This document outlines the approach to statistical analysis of randomised controlled trials recommended by What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC).

This guidance is based on the existing methodological literature in related fields, particularly education, which deals with similar cohorts.

Category: Methodological

Sector: Children and young people

Who it’s for: Evaluators; Analysts

Organisation: What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care

Keywords: RCT; impact; statistical analysis

2.4 Statistical analysis guidance for Education Endowment Fund (EEF) evaluations

Read the Statistical analysis guidance for EEF evaluations.

This document outlines the EEF’s policy on statistical analysis and effect size calculations. This guidance has been developed in association with the EEF’s Evaluation Advisory Group, other experts, and some members of EEF’s panel of evaluators

Category: Methodological

Sector: Children and young people

Who it’s for: Evaluators; Analysts

Organisation: Education Endowment Fund

Keywords: Impact; statistical analysis; randomised control trials

2.5 Evaluate: An introduction to evaluating age-friendly successes and challenges.

Read Evaluate: An introduction to evaluating age-friendly successes and challenges..

Tools and resources to support those evaluating age-friendliness programmes.

Category: Introductory, framework, methodological

Sector: Age

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: Centre for Ageing Better

Keywords: Impact; framework; measures

2.6 The Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) Evaluation guidance

Read TASO’s evaluation guidance resources.

TASO’s evaluation guidance resources focus on a range of topics including:

• Correlation vs Causation
• Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)
• Quasi-experimental Designs
• Theory of Change

Category: Overview, introductory, methodological

Sector: Children and young people, Education

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: TASO

Keywords: Impact; research methods; theory of change

2.7 Youth Endowment Fund resources for Evaluators

Youth Endowment Fund resources for Evaluators.

A series of detailed guides and templates to support evaluators conduct robust studies. These include guidance on: feasibility studies, pilot studies, analysis, commissioning and outcomes measures.

Templates available include: statistical analysis plans, protocol plans, feasibility and pilot plans.

Category: Methodological

Sector: Children and young people, Crime

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: Youth Endowment Fund

Keywords: Feasibility Studies; analysis; commission

2.8 Impact Evaluation: A Guide for Commissioners and Managers

Read Impact Evaluation: A Guide for Commissioners and Managers.

This report sets out to support those evaluating and implementing evidence from impact evaluations across 5 chapters:

• Introduction and scope
• What is impact evaluation?
• Frameworks for designing impact evaluation
• What different designs and methods can do
• Using this guide

Note that this report assumes a level of familiarity with evaluation and socio-economic development.

Category: Overview, methodological, impact

Sector: International development

Who it’s for: Evaluators, Policymakers, Commissioners, Managers

Organisation: Bond

Keywords: Impact; framework; research design

3. Theory of change

3.1 Theory of Change in ten steps

Read Theory of Change in ten steps .

Ten step guide to developing theory of change for policy evaluation. Ten steps include:

• Step 1: Situation analysis
• Step 2: Target groups
• Step 3: Impact
• Step 4: Outcomes
• Step 5: Activities
• Step 6: Change mechanisms
• Step 7: Sequencing
• Step 8: Your theory of change diagram
• Step 9: Stakeholders and ‘enabling factors’
• Step 10: Assumptions

Category: Overview, introductory, methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: NPC

Keywords: Theory of change; impact; outcomes

4. Implementation and process evaluation

4.1 Implementation and process evaluation guidance for EEF evaluations

Read Implementation and process evaluation guidance for EEF evaluations.

This paper recommends a set of key principles for EEF evaluators planning, conducting and reporting IPE, in line with recommended best practice for pragmatic mixed-method and qualitative research.

Category: Introductory, methodological

Sector: Children and young people

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: Education Endowment Fund

Keywords: Implementation; process; mixed method; qualitative

4.2 Test, Learn, Adapt

Read Test, Learn, Adapt.

Test, Learn, Adapt: Developing Public Policy with Randomised Controlled Trials

A document introducing what RCTs are and how they can be used to support public policies. It highlights the case for evaluation and provides practical guidance on how to conduct RCTs to support this.

Category: Overview, introductory, methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Evaluators, policymakers, practitioners

Organisation: Behavioural Insights Team

Keywords: Implementation; process; randomised control trials; policy

5. Cost-benefit

5.1 Cost benefit tool

Read the Cost benefit tool.

A range of guidance focused on how to undertake cost benefit analysis of crime prevention interventions.

Category: Methodological

Sector: Crime and policing

Who it’s for: Evaluators, Economists

Organisation: College of Policing

Keywords: Cost-benefit; economic; tool

5.2 Cost evaluation guidance for EEF evaluations

Read the Cost evaluation guidance for EEF evaluations.

Guidelines for cost-evaluation

Category: Methodological

Sector: Youth

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: Education Endowment Fund

Keywords: Cost-benefit; methodology

6. Tools, frameworks and evidence maps

6.1 Government Analytical Evaluation Capabilities Framework

Read the Government Analytical Evaluation Capabilities Framework.

A resource drawn from the Magenta Book. The Government Analytical Evaluation Capabilities Framework is addressed in four sections:

• Introduction to the framework
• Scoping
• Methods
• Use and dissemination

Category: Methodological, framework

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Analysts, economists, evaluators

Organisation: HM Treasury

Keywords: Impact; process; value-for-money

6.2 Evidence and Gap Map

Read the Evidence and Gap Map.

A resource mapping evidence on what works to keep children safe from involvement in violence.

Category: Overview

Sector: Children and young people, crime

Who it’s for: Practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: Youth Endowment Fund

Keywords: Evidence map; young people

6.3 Evidence and Gap Map

Read Evidence and Gap Map.

The map contains 399 studies that evaluate the effectiveness of youth employment and skills interventions. Of these, 378 are impact evaluation studies and 21 are systematic reviews.

Category: Overview

Sector: Children and young people, employment

Who it’s for: Practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: Youth Futures Foundation

Keywords: Evidence map; young people

6.4 Ageing Better Measures Framework

Read the Ageing Better Measures Framework.

The Measures Framework allows individuals or organisations to quickly find a measure, scale or survey related to their topic.

Category: Overview / Measures & Framework

Sector: Age

Who it’s for: Practitioners, evaluators

Organisation: Centre for Ageing Better

Keywords: Measures; scales; surveys

6.5 Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods Tool

Read the Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods Tool.

​This tool can be used for 3 main purposes: general learning about evaluation methods; support design of planned interventions; and help users understand the best fit between evaluation questions, stakeholder interests and programme features or attributes.

Additionally, a link is available to book onto a training course: ‘Tools and methods available for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning’

Category: Methodological

Sector: International Development

Who it’s for: Evaluators, Policymakers

Organisation: Bond

Keywords: Methods; intermediate

7. Evaluating complex policies

7.1 Analysis in Government Sharing Webinar: Evaluation of Complex Policies

Analysis in Government Sharing Webinar: Evaluation of Complex Policies

A webinar introducing evaluation of complex policies in government and understanding how outcomes of policies can support government functioning.

Category: Overview / Introductory

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Evaluators

Organisation: Government Analysis Function

Keywords: Complex; introduction; policy

7.2 Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation

Read Handling Complexity in Policy Evaluation.

A supplementary guide developed by CECAN to support evaluation of complex policy through the Magenta Book

Category: Methodological

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Commissioners, Evaluators, Managers

Organisation: CECAN and Magenta Book

Keywords: Complex; policy; commissioners

7.3 Developing Strategic Approaches to Infrastructure Planning

Read Developing Strategic Approaches to Infrastructure Planning.

This report documents trends in the use of strategic planning in a range of countries and the associated establishment of independent infrastructure advisory bodies. It documents practices in the areas of project identification, appraisal and selection.

It considers the appropriate scope of impact assessments, including the use of wider economic impacts and the role of ex post evaluation in contributing to better appraisals of future investments. Finally, it looks at how the effective stewardship of existing infrastructure assets can maximise their ongoing productivity.

Category: Research, Methodological, Overview

Sector: Infrastructure

Who it’s for: Commissioners, Evaluators, Managers

Organisation: OECD and International Transport Forum

Keywords: Complex; infrastructure; commissioners

7.4 Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions (online)

Visit website to book the course.

This course provides participants with an understanding of the complex intervention research process.

Category: Research, Methodological, Overview

Sector: All

Who it’s for: Evaluators, Researchers

Organisation: NCRM with University of Glasgow

Keywords: Complex; interventions; development; evaluation