| Session Title: Strategies for Reconstructing Baseline Data |
| Think Tank Session 248 to be held in Capitol Ballroom Section 1 on Thursday, Nov 6, 10:55 AM to 12:25 PM |
| Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Michael Bamberger, Independent Consultant, jmichaelbamberger@gmail.com |
| Discussant(s): |
| Jim Rugh, Independent Consultant, jimrugh@mindspring.com |
| Samuel Bickel, United Nations Children's Fund, sbickel@unicef.org |
| Abstract: Evaluators are frequently asked to assess the impacts of projects that are already underway before the evaluation is commissioned. Often no baseline data has been collected, or available baseline data is inadequate. The purpose of the Think Tank is to exchange experiences on approaches that participants have used in their own evaluations, both overseas and in North America to estimate the conditions of the project and/or comparison groups at the time of project launch. The workshop facilitators will draw on their extensive experience in conducting and teaching impact evaluation overseas to review commonly used quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method approaches for reconstructing baseline data and to present a framework for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Participants will break into groups to share and assess the different methods they have used and will then reconvene to discuss guidelines for strengthening estimates of baseline conditions. |