A Critical Analysis of the Mixed Methods Approaches in Impact Evaluation: Experiences from Triangulation Design

Abstract

A study was conducted with the aim of assessing the credibility of mixed methods approaches in impact evaluation. Four key variants/models of triangulation (convergence, data transformation, validating quantitative data and multivariate models)  were discussed in light of impact evaluation methodological procedures. Documentary analysis method was used for data collection, four evaluation reports from Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Kenya were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The study observed a number of weaknesses linked to mixed methods paradigm that are capable of under mining its credibility.