This section of the GUIDE considers the methods and techniques that are available for the evaluation of socio-economic development. The individual methods and techniques are elaborated in Sourcebook 2. In an earlier section of the GUIDE, the design of evaluations was considered in general terms. Here we focus on the choices that need to be made both about broad families of methods and about specific techniques within these families. The application of methods and techniques inevitably raises questions of the data sources and evidence that evaluators rely on. Here, these sources of evidence are considered not only in terms of how they can be analysed but also in terms of how they can be located or even created where they have not previously existed. This section of GUIDE begins by considering: the context within which choices over methods and techniques are made; the somewhat blurred distinction between quantitative and qualitative data; and the ways in which evidence is obtained and used. The subsequent sub sections consider:
- The methods and techniques applicable for different types of socio economic interventions , including the main thematic priorities and different policy areas.
- The methods and techniques for different evaluation purposes (planning, accountability, implementation, knowledge production, institutional strengthening)
- The methods and techniques applicable to different programme and policy stages, from policy formulation through to impacts
- The methods and techniques applied at different stages in the evaluation process ( Sourcebook 2 presents methods and techniques in this way)
- Acquiring and using data with different characteristics in evaluation
- Creating indicators and indicator systems
- Using indicator to improve management
- Golden Rules