TIP 1: Primary or Secondary Data?
When identifying measurement methods, it is useful to consider whether you need primary data to measure your indicator, or whether you can rely on secondary data.
- Primary data sources require that the project team and stakeholders directly collect the information needed to measure progress against an indicator. Generally, primary data sources provide the most reliable and appropriate data for measuring the progress of your project.
However, when possible you can consider using using secondary data sources.
- Secondary data sources rely on information that is already available through other sources (published or unpublished). The advantage of secondary data is that they are cost effective and reduce the risk of duplicating effort. Examples of secondary methods include existing records, statistics and reports.
In practice, access to secondary data is often limited. It can be challenging to find data that directly address the precise data needs of your project. If you choose to use secondary data, be clear about the criteria you use to confirm that the data are valid, reliable and directly represent your area of interest.
TIP 2: Have you involved project stakeholders?
When selecting measurement methods, consider which methods will be most appropriate for use with your stakeholders. Are your stakeholders literate? Do they have connectivity? Are there times of the year that are more convenient for data gathering than others? The answers to questions like these will inform which measurement methods are most suited for the project.
Also, it is useful to consider whether the methods chosen can be designed to involve stakeholders in the data collection process. This is a recommended practice as it helps improve transparency and commitment to MEAL efforts.
TIP 3: Are there resource constraints?
Finally, decisions about the measurement methods you select will also be influenced by the resources available. Data collection is costly. Teams must have the resources (time, staff, and money) to implement the chosen mix of collection methods.
