Types of evaluation

Types of evaluation

1. Formative Evaluation (also known as ‘evaluability assessment’)

   • It generates data on the need for the program and develops the baseline for subsequent monitoring.
   • identifies areas of improvement and can give insights on what the program’s priorities should be.
     • Questions to ask:  Is there a need for the program? What can do to improve it?

2. Process Evaluation (also known as ‘program monitoring’)

   • The data it generates is useful in identifying inefficiencies and streamlining processes, and portrays the program’s status to external parties.
     • Questions to ask: Who is being reached by the program?How the program is being implemented and what are the gaps? Is it meeting targets?

3. Outcome Evaluation (also known as ‘objective-based evaluation’)

   • It generates data on the program’s outcomes and to what degree those outcomes are attributable to the program itself.

4. Economic Evaluation (also known as ‘cost analysis’, ‘cost-effectiveness evaluation’, ‘cost-benefit analysis’, and ‘cost-utility analysis’)

   • Is used during the program’s implementation and looks to measure the benefits of the programs against the costs.

5. Impact Evaluation

   • Studies the entire program from beginning to end (or at whatever stage the program is at), and looks to quantify whether or not it has been successful.

6. Summative Evaluation

   • It generates data about how well the project delivered benefits to the target population.

7. Goals-Based Evaluation (also known as ‘objectively set evaluation)

   • Development programs often set ‘SMART’ targets — Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely — and goals-based evaluation measures progress towards these targets.

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