Ciaran McDonald
Head of Evaluation & Impact
London Office
Building credible evidence for impact and value.
What I do
At Rocket Science, I lead our evaluation and impact work, helping organisations generate and use credible evidence about impact and value to make better decisions. Within this, I lead our quantitative evaluation, analytics and value for money offer, and I also lead our violence reduction and prevention work. My expertise spans mixed methods evaluation, quasi-experimental design, respondent-centred survey research, and the analysis and use of monitoring, administrative and public data. I connect important questions with the right methods and evidence, helping organisations understand change, make proportionate claims about impact, and use learning to strengthen delivery, strategy and investment.
MY STORY
My route into evaluation began with politics, where I was drawn to the design choices behind research: framing questions, choosing methods and generating credible evidence.
Through academic training and work in research and evaluation consultancy, I developed expertise in methodological design, survey methods and quantitative analysis. I hold a first-class MA from Edinburgh and an MSc with Distinction from SOAS. I taught research and evaluation methods at City, University of London and King’s College London, and am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. These experiences shape my approach: rigorous in design, practical in delivery and clear in communication.
Areas of Expertise
Approaches I use
OUTSIDE OF WORK
I can usually be found outdoors, whether getting out into nature and spotting wildlife or checking on whatever fruit and veg I’m trying to grow. When I’m not outside, I’m usually reading my way through Egyptian novels or watching football.
