Application of quasi-experimental methodologies to the design and evaluation of foreign assistance projects

IN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROJECTS. THE STUDY ATTEMPTS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE PRACTIONER AND THE THEORETICIAN ON QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL METHODS BY PRESENTING MATERIAL WHICH TREATS EVALUATION AND THE A.I.D. ENVIRONMENT. METHODOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONS ARE CASE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE EVALUATION AND DESIGN SITUATIONS. EVALUATION, ITS TYPES AND PURPOSES, AND ITS ROLE IN THE A.I.D. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROCESS IS DISCUSSED, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS BEING PLACED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOUND PROGRAM AND PROJECT DESIGN. IT NOTES THE PITFALLS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED WHEN SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED. NUMEROUS DETAILED EXAMPLES TYPICAL OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROJECT AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS ARE CITED. QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGIES PRESENT A SERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVALUATION DESIGNS. THERE DESIGNS EXPLAIN HOW EACH AVOIDS THREATS TO VALIDITY AND IS ADAPTABLE TO USE IN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROJECTS. THE REPORT SUMMARIZES ARGUMENTS FOR THE ADOPTION BY A.I.D. OF MORE RIGOROUS DESIGN AND EVALUATION METHODS. ACTUAL PROJECT DESIGNS DEMONSTRATE HOW QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PRINCIPLES MAY BE COMBINED IN A SINGLE DESIGN FORMAT.