Paper
Qualitative Methods
Are qualitative methods necessary for impact assessments?
17 pages
The focus of this paper is on how qualitative methods can complement other methods as part of integrated impact assessment. It covers the following:
- Meaning of qualitative methods and how these can complement quantitative and participatory methods;
- Major qualitative methods of impact assessment: informal interviews, case studies, and direct observation;
- Ways of increasing rigour and reliability for particular types of enterprise impact assessment;
- Summary guidelines for commissioning and assessing qualitative methods in different types of enterprise intervention.
As per the author, some of the benefits of qualitative impact assessment are:
- Increases the understanding of what is happening;
- Contributes to understanding who gets affected and in what ways;
- Analyzes why particular impacts are occurring;
- Assesses how policies can be reviewed.
The author mentions that qualitative assessments help in the following stages of impact assessment:
- In the initial identification of indicators, categories for sampling, analysis and formulation of hypotheses;
- During the impact assessment process for crosschecking and probing issues raised by other methods, particularly for investigating more sensitive and complex issues;
- Towards the end of the assessment for identifying outcomes of recommendations.
The author recommends the following measures for ensuring the effectiveness of qualitative assessments:
- Continual probing, reflection and refinement of hypotheses;
- Good levels of rapport with the target population;
- Focussed informant targeting;
- Detailed information recording.
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