Blog — Sensemaking Lab

Critical Analytics · Oscar J Mayorga · 9/15/26

Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Which Method When

Qualitative vs. quantitative research, made practical. What each method answers well, the limits of each, and how to choose the method that fits your decision.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 9/8/26

How to Write the Evaluation Section of a Grant

How to write the evaluation section of a grant proposal: questions tied to a logic model, mixed methods, indicators, timeline, and a real plan to use findings.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 9/1/26

Culturally Responsive Evaluation, Explained

Culturally responsive evaluation treats context, culture, and stakeholder voice as central to validity, not decoration. Here is what that means and why it matters.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 8/25/26

Building an Early-Warning System for Retention

How to build an early-warning system for student retention: choose leading indicators, set thresholds, route every flag to a named owner, and close the loop.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 8/18/26

What Institutional Research Actually Does

Institutional research is the campus function behind reporting, accreditation, and student-success analytics. Here is what IR actually does and why it matters.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 8/11/26

Outcomes vs. Outputs: Measuring Nonprofit Impact

Outcomes vs outputs: outputs count activity, outcomes measure change. Learn the logic-model chain, why funders confuse them, and how to measure impact honestly.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 8/4/26

Internal vs. External Evaluators: How to Decide

Internal vs. external evaluator: the honest trade-offs on cost, independence, capacity, and credibility, plus when to choose each and the hybrid middle path.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/28/26

Enrollment Forecasting 101

Enrollment forecasting explained plainly: what it is, the main methods, the data you need, why to disaggregate, and the pitfalls that sink a projection.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/21/26

Student Retention Strategies That Work

Student retention strategies that move persistence: leading indicators, early-warning systems, wraparound support, and honest measurement that shows the gap.

Critical Analytics · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/14/26

What Is Critical Analytics?

Critical analytics is data analysis that asks how a metric was built, what it measures, and who benefits, not just what the numbers say. Here is what that changes.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/7/26

How to Choose a Program Evaluator

What a program evaluator does, how internal and external evaluation compare, the six questions to ask before you hire, and the green and red flags that separate a strong fit from an expensive disappointment.