Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

The following text is drawn from World Bank  (2004).

What are they?
Formal surveys can be used to collect standardized information from a carefully
selected sample of people or households. Surveys often collect comparable information
for a relatively large number of people in particular target groups.
 

What can we use them for?

• Providing baseline data against which the performance of the strategy, program, or

project can be compared.

• Comparing different groups at a given point in time.
• Comparing changes over time in the same group.
• Comparing actual conditions with the targets established in a program or project design.
• Describing conditions in a particular community or group.
• Providing a key input to a formal evaluation of the impact of a program or project.
• Assessing levels of poverty as basis for preparation of poverty reduction strategies.

Advantages

• Findings from the sample of people interviewed can be applied to the wider target

group or the population as a whole.

• Quantitative estimates can be made for the size and distribution of impacts.

Disavantages:

• With the exception of CWIQ, results are often not available for a long period of

time.

• The processing and analysis of data can be a major bottleneck for the larger surveys

even where computers are available.

• LSMS and household surveys are expensive and time-consuming.
• Many kinds of information are difficult to obtain through formal interviews.

Cost:
Ranges from roughly $30–60 per household for the CWIQ to $170 per household for
the LSMS. Costs will be significantly higher if there is no master sampling frame for
the country.

Skills required:
Sound technical and analytical skills for sample and questionnaire design, data analysis,
and processing.

Time required:
Depends on sample size. The CWIQ can be completed in 2 months. The LSMS
generally requires 18 months to 2 years.

Source: World Bank (2004). Monitoring and Evaluation: Some Tools, Methods & Approaches. Washington DC, The World Bank. http://lnweb90.worldbank.org/oed/oeddoclib.nsf/b57456d58aba40e585256ad400736404/a5efbb5d776b67d285256b1e0079c9a3/$FILE/MandE_tools_methods_approaches.pdf

For more information:

• Sapsford, R. (1999). Survey Research. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.
• Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire: http://www4.worldbank.org/afr/stats/cwiq.cfm
• LSMS: http://www.worldbank.org/lsms/
• Client Satisfaction Surveys: http://www4.worldbank.org/afr/stats/wbi.cfm#sds
• Citizen Report Cards: http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/sdvext.nsf/60ByDocName/
• CitizenReportCardSurveysANoteontheConceptandMethodology/$FILE/CRC+SD+note.pdf