Study on the Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Impact Evaluation and Measuring Results

Project Information

Oxford Policy Management was contracted by the Department for International Development (DFID) to author a paper on the use of qualitative and quantitative methods for impact evaluation. With a background of increasing demand to undertake ‘more and better’ impact evaluations and DFID’s new policy on impact evaluations, this paper aimed to contribute to the ongoing debate by highlighting experience on mixed methods to ensure that we:

1. measure the different impact of donor interventions on different groups of people and
2. measure the different dimensions of poverty, particularly those that are not readily quantified but which poor people themselves identity as important, such as dignity, respect, security and power.

A third framing question was added during the discussions with DFID staff on the use of the research process itself as a way of increasing accountability and empowerment of the poor.

Quantitative and qualitative methods in impact evaluation and measuring results (335 kb)