Evaluation tools

Toolkit

Resource link

This website offers a toolkit for evaluators. Available on the EuropeAid’s website on evaluation; it details 13 key evaluation tools explaining what, why and when they should be used and how to implement them.

Contents

  • Toolbox (overview of main tools)
  • Problem diagram
  • Objectives and effects diagrams
  • Decision diagram
  • Interview
  • Focus group
  • Expert panel
  • Case study
  • Context indicators
  • SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, Strengths, Opportunities) 
  • Multicriteria analysis
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Cultural and social analysis

Sources

EuropeAid Co-operation Office (2005) Evaluation Tools, European Commission. Retrieved from https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/evaluation_guidelines/wiki/evaluation-tools-0

Methods

  • Questionnaires

    A questionnaire is a specific set of written questions which aims to extract specific information from the chosen respondents. 

  • Interviews

    Interviews are conversations between an investigator (interviewer) and a respondent (‘interviewees’, ‘informants’ or ‘sources’) in which questions are asked in order to obtain information.

  • Focus groups

    A focus group is a type of group interview designed to explore peoples attitudes.

  • Expert panel

    Expert panels are used when specialized input and opinion is required for an evaluation.

  • SWOT analysis

    The SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that encourages group or individual reflection on and assessment of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of a particular strategy and how to best implement it.

  • Multi-criteria analysis

    A multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is a form of appraisal that measures variables such as material costs, time savings and project sustainability as well as the social and environmental impacts in addition to monetary impacts.

  • Cost effectiveness analysis

    Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) compares the relative costs of the outcomes of two or more courses of action and is considered an alternative to cost-benefit analysis (CBA). 

Approach

  • Case study

    A case study focuses on a particular unit - a person, a site, a project. It often uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative data.

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