This Sourcebook describes a wide range of methods and techniques that are applied in the evaluation of socio-economic development. The methods and techniques are grouped together according to the main phases of evaluation: structuring evaluations; collecting information; and then five sections which describe different types of methods in more detail.
The entire Sourcebook is under review, following recent evaluation experiences (ex post evaluation by the Commission and ongoing evaluation by Member States) and the Warsaw Conference on Evaluation Methods and Cohesion Policy. Different sections of the Sourcebook will be revised during the next year. Already, new sections on counterfactual impact evaluation and macro-economic models have been developed and are uploaded.
Choosing methods and techniques
The choice of methods and techniques stems from the evaluation design or mode of enquiry. Methods and techniques are selected if they are appropriate for answering the evaluation questions.
As elaborated in the GUIDE the choice of methods and techniques depends on:
- The type of the socio-economic intervention;
- The evaluation purpose - accountability, improving management, explaining what works and why, etc.; and
- The stage in the programme/policy cycle - prospective analysis/retrospective analysis.
Additionally, the appropriateness of the methods and techniques depends on the scope of the evaluation - which could range from an overall evaluation of a multi-sectoral programme, to an in-depth study of a particular evaluation question.
The elaborations of the techniques provide users with some ideas on how they can be applied and the main steps involved. It should be stressed, however, that some of the techniques are themselves longstanding and build upon a wealth of experience and literature that is not fully reviewed here. The main purpose of the presentations is to show how the techniques can contribute to the evaluation of socio economic development. Users are encouraged to refer to the examples and references given prior to using the techniques for the first time. The information given here should however be sufficient to enable those reading the findings of evaluation where the techniques have been applied to understand their basis.