Profile: Methods
 

Evaluation

Long years of experience and a distinctive combination of survey and evaluation methods distinguish equi's work in the field of evaluation so far. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are combined (target and context analysis, implementation and impact analysis) and result in three types of evaluation to be applied and combined according to the specific demands of a research project:

• target and context analysis (policy evaluation): The purpose of policy evaluation is to answer the question whether political measures fit their target.
• implementation evaluation: Here we deal with the systematic realization of a measure. Throughout the implementation stage it is possible to set adjustments (process evaluation) and/or to integrate the implementation into the analysis of the measure's effects ex post.
• impact evaluation: The analysis of a measure's effects is aimed at the degree to which its objectives are achieved and at all desired and undesired effects it produces.

Process-attending evaluations, combinations of the analysis of implementation and impact as well as cost-benefit analyses assume special importance here.