Research, evaluation and insights toolkit
Ngā māramatanga rangahau me te kete arotake
Your toolkit for smarter decisions in sport and recreation
Creating enriching physical activity experiences for tamariki and rangatahi starts with great information. This toolkit helps organisations across the sector to use research, evaluation and insights with purpose – to understand what works, improve what doesn’t, and better reflect the needs of our communities. Explore practical guidance, resources and examples that help turn knowledge into positive impact.
Using insights to drive impact, organisations in play, active recreation and sport can make smarter, more meaningful decisions.
Incorporating research, evaluation and insights throughout every stage of your project or strategy isn’t just good practice – it’s essential for impact. From planning through to communication, using evidence helps you make smarter decisions, anticipate challenges, track what’s working and continuously improve.
This approach not only strengthens project outcomes but also supports long-term sustainability and greater community relevance. The resources in this hub are designed to help you embed insights across the full project lifecycle — from planning with clear goals and measures, to doing through robust data collection and evaluation, reviewing what the evidence is telling you, and communicating insights in ways that inform, influence and inspire. By working through each phase, you can ensure every step of your work is thoughtful, informed and meaningful.
We’ll continue adding new resources to the toolkit over time. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to help shape future content.
Resources
Set a strong foundation by defining what success looks like and how to measure it.
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Create a clear project plan.
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Define strategic outcomes and success indicators.
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Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan.
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Identify key research questions.
Resources for this section are coming soon
Turn data into direction through sense-making and actionable insights.
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Manage and analyse collected data.
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Facilitate sense-making sessions with stakeholders.
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Identify key findings an develop evidence-based recommendation.
Resources for this section are coming soon
Share what you’ve learned to inform others, build support and inspire change.
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Map audiences and communication needs.
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Create a communications plan for your findings.
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Present insights through storytelling and visualisation data.
- Share case studies that demonstrate impact.
Resources for this section are coming soon
