Wikimedia Deutschland/Evaluation/Basics

This page provides a brief introduction to the basic methods used to evaluate Wikimedia Deutschland's projects. It is maintained by Wikimedia Deutschland's Evaluation Unit.

Programs

Programs group projects according to predefined formal criteria. As a starting point, Wikimedia Deutschland grouped its current projects into cross-departmental programs that each share one common long-term goal. This facilitates systematic project evaluation and meets the formal requirements for FDC applications. All programs had to meet the following criteria:

• All the projects of a program must share a common goal (e.g. to enhance the quality and quantity of the content of Wikimedia projects).
• All the projects of a program must be based on the same change model (e.g. to support volunteers).

Change models

Change models provide the theoretical basis for planning and evaluating the projects. The Evaluation Unit develops and continually revises these models on a long-term basis and in line with recognized standards. A causal change model has been developed for each program to describe its goal and the means by which it is to be achieved (Theory of Change approach). The change models also specify possible measures that will allow to evaluate the success of a program.

• Volunteer Support Model
  Volunteers are enabled to create free knowledge as part of the Wikimedia movement.

• Community Empowerment Model
  The Wikimedia movement is empowered. (model in development)

• Institutional Partnerships Model
  Institutions contribute free knowledge to the Wikimedia movement.

• Legal and Social Framework Model
  Society’s decision-makers improve the general conditions for free knowledge.

Indicators

Indicators are a component of change models. Indicators set out ways to evaluate whether or not a project has led to the the intended outcomes.