Presenting Evaluation Results to Social Work Colleagues: Three-Slide Example on the Grameen America Evaluation

Discussion: Disseminating evaluation results to colleagues (three slides)

Results of an evaluation serve no purpose unless they are shared. Assume the role of a social worker instructing colleagues on the results of an evaluation study and recommending whether your organization should adopt the program or practice. Select an evaluation study from this week’s resources and use the PowerPoint template from the Learning Resources.

Post three slides that summarize the study (background, research methods and main findings) and state whether you would support adopting the program or practice in your agency or community, based on the evidence. Make the slides engaging; do not include narration.

Original example for study purposes (3 slides). This example uses MDRC’s randomized evaluation of the Grameen America microloan program; use a study from your own week’s resources and your course’s PowerPoint template.

Slide 1: Grameen America: Do Small Loans Help Women Build Financial Resilience?

• Program: collateral-free loans (first loans up to $2,500) to low-income women in peer groups of five, with weekly meetings, training and credit reporting
• Question: does access to microloans improve income, reduce material hardship and build credit?
• Design: MDRC randomized controlled trial; women who applied were randomly assigned to the program or a control group
• Data: participant surveys at 18 and 36 months, credit reports, program data, interviews and focus groups

Slide 2: What the Evaluation Found

• Business ownership and business earnings increased (18 months)
• Material hardship decreased at both 18 and 36 months
• Net income rose only modestly; wage employment fell at 18 months as women shifted to self-employment
• More women had credit scores, and nonretirement savings increased (36 months)
• Takeaway: financial stability improved, but microloans are not a fast route out of poverty

Slide 3: Recommendation: Adopt as a Pilot, Paired With Supports

• Yes, as a pilot, because rigorous evidence shows reduced hardship and improved credit access
• Pair loans with financial coaching, childcare and benefits counseling
• Target women who already run or want to start small businesses
• Track outcomes: hardship, savings, credit scores and business revenue at 6 and 12 months

References

Quiroz Becerra, M. V., Schaberg, K., Holman, D., & Hendra, R. (2020). Putting microfinance to the test: 18-month impacts of the Grameen America program. MDRC. https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/putting-microfinance-test

Schaberg, K., Holman, D., Quiroz Becerra, M. V., & Hendra, R. (2022). Pathways to financial resilience: 36-month impacts of the Grameen America program. MDRC. https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/pathways-financial-resilience

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