Tipos Generales de Evaluación
Types of Evaluations in Public Policy
Introduction to Evaluation Types
- Oscar Mauricio Covarrubias Romero introduces himself as the Deputy Director at the Performance Evaluation Unit of the Ministry of Finance, discussing general types of evaluations within public policy.
- The importance of understanding how evaluations are classified based on their objectives is emphasized, highlighting the need for clarity in what is intended to be achieved.
General Typology of Evaluations
- Five specific criteria are outlined for classifying evaluations:
- By focus
- By phase in the public policy cycle
- By type of work performed
- By methodology used
- By evaluating entity involved
Distinction Between General and Specific Evaluations
- A distinction is made between general evaluation types (classification) and specific evaluation types (design, process, impact). This sets a framework for understanding various evaluation practices.
Focus-Based Classification
- The first criterion relates to whether an evaluation focuses on social development policies or other areas such as economic productivity or budget efficiency, particularly relevant in Mexico's context with CONEVAL's role.
Phase-Based Evaluation Criteria
- Evaluations can occur "ex ante" (before implementation) or "ex post" (after execution), allowing for assessments at different stages—viability studies before implementation and outcome analyses afterward are highlighted as key examples.
Type of Work Performed by Evaluators
- The third criterion distinguishes between fieldwork and deskwork; both are essential for comprehensive evaluations, especially when assessing programs aimed at improving accessibility to education for people with disabilities through direct observation and surveys alongside administrative data review.
Methodological Approaches in Evaluations
- The fourth criterion discusses quantitative versus qualitative methodologies:
- Quantitative methods use statistical sampling techniques to test hypotheses.
- Qualitative methods aim for a detailed understanding of complex social processes, emphasizing that both approaches can complement each other in evaluations.
Internal vs External Evaluations
- The fifth classification criterion differentiates between internal (self-evaluated) and external evaluations:
- Internal evaluations may reduce costs but risk bias.
- External evaluations provide objectivity but come with higher costs; only those conducted by external agents are recognized under Mexican Federal Normative guidelines.
Reflection on Evaluation Practices
- It’s suggested that while classifications may seem mutually exclusive, practical applications often require combining multiple approaches—impact assessments might necessitate both fieldwork and desk analysis along with mixed methodologies tailored to specific objectives.