"During the last six years, the Asociación Latinoamericana de Educación Radiofónica (ALER) carried out two main investigations on popular radio in Latin America: on the one hand an external evaluation (in 1996/97) of the strengths and weaknesses of ALER's strategies and lines of action, and on the other hand (in 2000/2001) a diagnosis of the impact of the associate members. The author, one of the two coordinators of the second study, compares the different objectives, methodologies and results of the two experiences. The two studies met their main objectives. The 1996 evaluation led to the implementation or correction of some aspects of the institutional logic, while the 2000 diagnosis led to a broad process of reflection." (Summary)