Seedling Series: Methodological Bricolage for Evaluating Systems Change

There is no single methodology for evaluating the complexity of systems change. Instead, it is necessary to intentionally combine and recombine parts of multiple methods in ways that are both practically feasible and technically rigorous, while also ensuring ethical and cultural soundness. 

Methodological bricolage refers to this practice of creatively and responsibly mixing parts of methods. Successfully engaging in bricolage, whether as commissioners, changemakers, or evaluators, requires knowledge of multiple methods and the ways these methods can be combined to answer high-level questions about the value of systems change tailored to specific purposes and circumstances. 

This 2-hour course focuses on the what and how of intentional methodological bricolage for evaluating systems change. Since there is no single right way, the course outlines a workflow and provides reflective questions to explore when collaboratively planning an evaluation. The approach blends the depth of epistemological pluralism with a breadth of methodological approaches, including narrative, theory-based, and emergent approaches to assessing impact. 

The facilitators bring a deep passion combined with over 25 years of knowledge and experience in systems and evaluation scholarship and practice.

This short course is offered in collaboration between Marina Apgar, Senior Research Fellow at Institute of Development Studies (UK), Emily Gates, Associate Professor at Boston College, and School of System Change as part of the Seedling Series: short courses supporting changemakers to embrace complexity through discovering the diversity of systemic approaches and practitioners.

Seedling Series courses are for changemakers who want to learn to embrace complexity through discovering the diversity of systemic approaches and pracitioners that exist in the field.

This short course is for you if you want to learn to:

• Appreciate the range of methodological options available for evaluating systems change
• Be intentional with methodological choice when designing or implementing evaluations of systems change
• Craft evaluation designs that are appropriate for systems change and can stand up to scrutiny
• Explain how your evaluation design supports quality and rigour in conditions of complexity

To maximise your learning, spaces on this cohort are limited. We encourage you to enrol as soon as you can to secure your place.

This course will run on Thursday 9 October 2025 at 07:00-09:00 PT / 10:00-12:00 ET / 15:00-17:00 BST / 16:00-18:00 CEST.

You can join from anywhere in the world, so long as you can attend the time listed above.

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The School of System Change is continually working to improve the financial accessibility of our courses. For this course we offer three rates, and ask that you select the one that fits your financial situation. It is our hope that those able to afford the higher fees help us cover costs and support others to access the discounted rates.

Contribution Ticket: Regenerative - £55 GBP

Contribution Ticket: Supporter - £40 GBP

Contribution Ticket: Supported - £25 GBP

VAT does not apply.

Refund policy: Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another participant.

Enrolment is first come, first served until we reach our maximum cohort size, so we encourage you to enrol as soon as you can. Enrolment closes on Wednesday 8 October at 23:00 ET.

If the short course is full before the enrolment deadline, we will start a waiting list of those interested.

Refund policy: Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another participant.

We seek to create safe and brave spaces for participants from different backgrounds and lived experience to engage in learning together. We acknowledge the power and responsibility we hold in our role as a convenor and learning provider, placing multiple ways of knowing and awareness of difference as fundamental design principles in our programmes.

Read more about our commitment and journey around equity and difference.

Accessibility

If you will need additional support for your wellbeing or access needs, then please let us know as soon as possible, so we can factor this into our session design. You can let us know when you enrol or email us at [email protected] - we are happy to arrange a call to discuss how we can support your learning.

If you have any questions about this short course or the Seedling Series, please get in touch with the School team at [email protected].