Evaluation methods for child feeding projects in developing countries, final report : Chapt. II, perspectives for program officials

TO TEST THE EFFICACY OF A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING PROGRAMS, A PILOT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF TWO TYPES OF PROGRAMS AT FIVE SITES IN EACH OF THREE COUNTRIES: COLOMBIA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND KENYA. THE STUDY RESULTS WERE AMBIGUOUS. THUS THE METHODOLOGY TESTED IS NOT RECOMMENDED AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING PROGRAMS. THIS CHAPTER OF THE REPORT ON THE STUDY IS WRITTEN FOR PROGRAM OFFICIALS. IT EXPLAINS THE EVALUATION METHODS THE REPORT RECOMMENDS FOR FUTURE STUDIES, IDENTIFIES KEY ISSUES INVOLVED IN THOSE METHODS, AND DESCRIBES SOME IMPORTANT TECHNICAL CONCEPTS IN NONTECHNICAL TERMS. THIS CHAPTER PROVIDES A BROAD PERSPECTIVE ON EVALUATION STUDIES; DEFINES THE SPECIFIC ORIENTATION OF EVALUATION METHODS RECOMMENDED; AND LISTS THE CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN SELECTING THOSE METHODS. IT ALSO DISCUSSES A.I.D."S LOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROGRAM OFFICIALS OUTSIDE OF A.I.D. AND PRESENTS A LOGICAL FRAMEWORK DESIGNED AS A MASTER CHARTER FOR THE TYPES OF EVALUATIONS RECOMMENDED IN THIS REPORT. IT DISCUSSES THE ANALYSIS OF LINKAGE PROCESSES IN EVALUATING CHILD FEEDING OPERATIONS. EXAMINES THE USE OF MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS AND OTHER STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES AND PROVIDES A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE CHAPTER.