Journal Articles

The mixing of methods : A three-step process for improving rigour in impact evaluations

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This article describes a systematic process that is helpful in improving impact evaluation assignments, within restricted budgets and timelines. It involves three steps: a rethink of the key questions of the evaluation to develop more relevant, specific questions; a way of designing a mix of research methods to generate evidence that supports more valid conclusions; and a step that aims to make evaluation outputs more useful. The approach is illustrated through two examples: one on measuring income impacts in an irrigated horticulture programme in Nepal, Zambia and Ethiopia; and another on the assessment of changes in organizational capacities for collective marketing by smallholders in Bolivia. The article demonstrates that this simple, straightforward and structured three-step process helped to reduce the tendency to one-method designs. Enhanced critical reflection within the team allowed for greater sensitivity to validity threats and the creativity to find ways to handle them.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Evaluation

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oak : sage publisher., 2012

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

13563890

Classification

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Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Vol. 18 no. 1, January 2012,pp. 5-25

Subject(s)

validity
Rural development
Applied research
The mixing of methods
Value-chain development

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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