Orazio Attanasio and Elisa Cavatorta introduce their brief on measurement innovations
The EGC affiliate and coauthor wrote a brief on ""Innovations in measurement and the evaluation of human behaviour" for Centre of Excellence for Development Impact and Learning. Watch their introduction and download the brief and working paper.
"Innovations in measurement and the evaluation of human behaviour"
If policymakers or researchers aim to improve an intervention, scale it up, or assess why it works and for whom, then focussing solely on direct outcomes is not enough. There are several ways in which evaluations can go beyond traditional outcome measurement and explore the underlying drivers of impact and the behaviours of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.
Measurement goes hand in hand with developing a theory of change, and the two work best when they evolve jointly: new (and better) measurements could allow the consideration of more flexible and realistic theories, while theory informs the construction and design of new measures.
Linking measurement to human behaviour and decision-making processes offers useful angles for identifying the underlying drivers of an intervention’s impacts.
Measurement innovation and improvements – including the construction of new measures – are an important endeavour requiring crossdisciplinary input. This endeavour should be promoted.