Using Surveys Effectively: What are Impact Surveys?

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FINDINGS

Summary

Box 4 gives some useful Do’s and Don’ts
which might help in the planning, and
also the assessment, of your impact
survey.

BOX 4 DO’S AND DON’TS OF IMPACT SURVEYS

DON’T be tempted to make an impact survey your first IA exercise	DO start by using other tools first
DON’T try to answer all the issues related to impact that you can think of	DO be very clear about your objectives and make sure they are realistic
DON’T undertake an impact survey if you are mainly interested in a simple profile of your client’s characteristics or satisfaction with your services	DO check whether you can get the information from simpler methods
DON’T collect information you already have elsewhere	DO look at what information you already have in your MIS
DON’T settle for poor quality data	DO be rigorous about data collection including adequate training, supervision and motivation
DON’T assume tools like the AIMS/SEEP model can be applied without adapting them to your MFI’s situation	DO devote sufficient time to adapting AIMS/SEEP or other tools to your context and needs
DON’T get held up at the analysis stage because of poor planning or lack of skills	DO ensure you have sufficient skills on board and carry out trial analyses at the testing stage
DON’T jump to conclusions in your interpretation of results	DO triangulate findings with results from other tools and consider all possible interpretations

Resources

Nelson, C. (ed.), 2000,
Learning from Clients, Assessment Tools
for Microfinance Practitioners,
Washington, D.C.: SEEP/AIMS

Mosley, P. 1998,

The Use of Control Groups in Impact
Assessments for Microfinance,
Geneva: International Labour Office
Social Finance Unit

Roche, C. 1999,
Impact Assessment for Development

Agencies: Learning to Value Change,
Oxford: Oxfam

Hulme, D. 1997,

Impact Assessment Methodologies for
Microfinance: A Review,
Washington, D.C.: AIMS

Kirkpatrick et al, 2001,

Basic Impact Assessment at Project
Level,

Manchester: EDIAIS.

Other related Imp-Act Practice Notes
(available from Imp-Act secretariat or
website):

1. The Feedback Loop: Responding to
client needs

2. QUIP: Understanding clients through
in-depth interviews

3. Learning from client exit

5. Choosing and using indicators
for effective social performance
management

PAGE EIGHT • IM P-ACT PRACTICE NOTES • NUMBER FOUR • 2005