Research Archives - Nicole Clark Consulting

11 Feb, 2026

When “Evidence-Based” Becomes a Gatekeeper

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2026-02-18T11:46:34-05:00February 11th, 2026|Categories: Program, Service, & Campaign Design|Tags: evaluation, Evidence-Based, Nonprofits, program design, Research|0 Comments

In the nonprofit sector, “evidence-based” is treated as a marker of credibility, signaling rigor, effectiveness, and responsibility (especially in conversations about funding, accountability, and impact).

In theory, this makes sense. Evidence should help ensure that programs and services do what they claim to do. In practice, I’ve seen institutions define and enforce evidence-based standards in ways that quietly shape access to resources, trust, and organizational legitimacy.

Over time, I’ve come to see how evidence-based can function as a gatekeeper that shapes participation in ways that aren’t always intentional, transparent, or equitable.

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4 Feb, 2026

Ask Nicole: Evidence-Based….for WHO?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2026-02-02T13:17:32-05:00February 4th, 2026|Categories: Program, Service, & Campaign Design|Tags: Ask Nicole, evaluation, Evidence-Based, Nonprofits, program design, Research|0 Comments

So, what exactly is “evidence-based”?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this, how often people invoke it, how rarely they interrogate it, and how much weight it carries in nonprofit work.

At first glance, the idea seems straightforward: Programs and services should rely on evidence. In practice, I’ve seen people define, apply, and enforce standards in ways that shape what gets funded and whose evidence counts.

Over time, my own thinking has shifted. I understand the importance of evidence in framing effective programs and services and improving outcomes. At the same time, I’ve grown more attentive to how evidence, when use prescriptively, can flatten complexity, limit innovation, and miss the realities of the communities nonprofits are trying to serve.

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17 Sep, 2025

Close the Loop: Sharing Research Findings with Communities

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-09-17T11:42:12-04:00September 17th, 2025|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: community engagement, Research, research findings|0 Comments

Too often, the research process ends after data are collected, analyzed, and published.

Reports are sent to funders, findings are tucked away in shared drives, and life moves on. But for the people who make the research possible (community members who gave their time, their experiences, and their stories) silence can feel like a betrayal. They opened up, often about deeply personal or vulnerable experiences, and are left wondering what came of it all.

If communities only hear from you when you need data, but not when it’s time to share results, you’re not engaging in true partnership. You’re extracting.

Reporting back to share research findings isn’t just a courtesy. It’s a commitment to respect, reciprocity, and relationship-building. When we think about equitable research practices, how can we close the loop?

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3 Sep, 2025

Ask Nicole: How Can We Make Research Participation More Accessible?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2025-09-03T10:32:19-04:00September 3rd, 2025|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Ask Nicole, Research|0 Comments

Portrait of Nicole Clark smiling confidently against a gray background. The text reads: "Ask Nicole — How Can We Make Research Participation More Accessible?" with branding for Nicole Clark Consulting: Raise Your Voice for Women & Girls of Color. — Have a question you’d like to be featured? Let me know.

When most people think of accessibility in research, they think of translated surveys or hosting meetings in ADA-compliant spaces. While those are important, true accessibility requires much more. In addition to compliance, accessibility also creates conditions where participants feel seen, safe, and supported throughout the research process.

If your outreach starts and ends with “Here’s a link—please fill it out,” you’re likely missing a large part of your community.

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7 Jun, 2023

Ask Nicole: Should Research Come Before Evaluation?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2023-06-07T11:07:37-04:00June 7th, 2023|Categories: Research & Evaluation|Tags: Ask Nicole, evaluation, Research|0 Comments

Have a question you’d like to be featured? Let me know.

This question comes from Larissa, a graduate student in Arizona. Larissa write:

Hi Nicole,

I’m a graduate student currently taking a class about research and evaluation. I also just finished a course in evaluations within education and training.

My first assignment is to distinguish between evaluation and research and I must say that your post [“Ask Nicole: What’s the Difference Between Research and Evaluation?”] has given me the clearest examples of the difference. Thank you for that!

My question to you is can you please elaborate on when circumstances are more appropriate for research than evaluation? Having more of an evaluation background now, I tend to lean towards evaluation first. Is it just that research should be done before evaluation?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

In “Ask Nicole: What’s the Difference Between Research and Evaluation?“, I explained that how research and evaluation are both data collection and analysis tools. While research focuses on gaining or contributing new knowledge on a topic based on previous theories, evaluation is used to understand the effectiveness of a program for decision-making.

To answer Larissa’s question of whether research should be done before an evaluation, the answer is: It depends on the context (which is a very evaluator response.)

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If communities only hear from you when you need data, but not when it’s time to share results, you’re not engaging in true partnership. You’re extracting.

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