Impact Evaluation in Practice
Washington, DC: World Bank (2011), xvi, 244 pp.
Contains illustrations, tables, glossary pp. 229-235, index
ISBN 978-0-8213-8541-8 (print); 978-0-8213-8593-7 (ebook)
CC BY
Other editions: also published in French, Portuguese and Spanish; 2nd ed. 2016
"This book offers an accessible introduction to the topic of impact evaluation and its practice in development. Although the book is geared principally toward development practitioners and policy makers, we trust that it will be a valuable resource for students and others interested in impact evaluation. Prospective impact evaluations assess whether or not a program has achieved its intended results or test alternative strategies for achieving those results. We consider that more and better impact evaluations will help strengthen the evidence base for development policies and programs around the world [...] The three parts in this handbook provide a nontechnical introduction to impact evaluations, discussing what to evaluate and why in part 1; how to evaluate in part 2; and how to implement an evaluation in part 3. These elements are the basic tools needed to successfully carry out an impact evaluation." (Preface)
I. INTRODUCTION TO IMPACT EVALUATION, 1
1 Why Evaluate? 3
2 Determining Evaluation Questions, 21
II. HOW TO EVALUATE, 31
3 Causal Inference and Counterfactuals, 33
4 Randomized Selection Methods, 49
5 Regression Discontinuity Design, 81
6 Difference-in-Differences, 95
7 Matching, 107
8 Combining Methods, 117
9 Evaluating Multifaceted Programs, 129
III. HOW TO IMPLEMENT AN IMPACT EVALUATION, 139
10 Operationalizing the Impact Evaluation Design, 143
11 Choosing the Sample, 171
12 Collecting Data, 199
13 Producing and Disseminating Findings, 211
14 Conclusion, 223
1 Why Evaluate? 3
2 Determining Evaluation Questions, 21
II. HOW TO EVALUATE, 31
3 Causal Inference and Counterfactuals, 33
4 Randomized Selection Methods, 49
5 Regression Discontinuity Design, 81
6 Difference-in-Differences, 95
7 Matching, 107
8 Combining Methods, 117
9 Evaluating Multifaceted Programs, 129
III. HOW TO IMPLEMENT AN IMPACT EVALUATION, 139
10 Operationalizing the Impact Evaluation Design, 143
11 Choosing the Sample, 171
12 Collecting Data, 199
13 Producing and Disseminating Findings, 211
14 Conclusion, 223
