Evaluation in an emerging field: Developing a measurement framework for the field of counter-violent-extremism

Abstract

Despite previous research, the field of counter-violent-extremism has not benefited significantly from evaluation. By comparison, and despite a number of challenges, the evidence-based healthcare movement has an established track record of using evaluation to develop practice. We seek lessons from the evidence-based healthcare movement about what it might take to develop evaluation capacity in the emerging field of counter-violent-extremism. Based on this, we offer a framework for measurement in counter-violent-extremism: the ‘Violent Extremism Evaluation Measurement Framework’. We map out states and manifestations associated with violent extremism and radicalisation, then suggest how to measure levels and changes in relevant attributes.