Formulate a Question > Find the Evidence > Appraise the Evidence > Apply the Evidence > Evaluate the Results > Disseminate the Research

In order to assess the impact, effectiveness, and/or outcomes of using the evidence, the results or performance needs to be evaluated. Evaluation can happen on two levels, a practitioner level and a practice level.

On the practitioner level, the librarian should evaluate if all the steps of evidence-based librarianship were followed successfully. Was the question specifically focused? Was the best evidence obtained? Was the critical appraisal of the evidence fruitful? Was the evidence applied in a useful manner? This kind of evaluation helps one become a more successful evidence based practitioner. So, for example, in the roving reference question, did you find, appraise and apply the applicable research? Did you later discover you missed a major study or line of inquiry? Did your interpretation of the data uncovered ultimately lead to a better decision?

On the practice level, it's important to discover if "the service that you introduced or modified as a result of undertaking the evidence-based process actually made the anticipated difference" (Booth and Brice, 127). Did the introduction of roving reference result in increased patron satisfaction?