Research Design - Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods

Over the past 15 years, the evaluation field has actively debated RCTs and the “gold standard.” Since method choices depend heavily on context—such as programme type, maturity, and data availability—these debates offer only partial guidance. A more practical approach is to focus on the evidentiary criteria needed to assess causal impact. This session offers a brief overview of causal analysis principles and links them to common evaluation models. Participants will explore a framework built around four core evidentiary criteria, with real-world examples. In this session, participants will: discover a fresh perspective on impact evaluation; learn the key evidentiary requirements for causal inference and strengthen their ability to plan or assess impact evaluations effectively.

Scott Bayley is a Fellow of the Australian Evaluation Society with over 30 years’ experience in evaluation. He has held senior roles with Oxford Policy Management, DFAT, the Asian Development Bank, and the Victorian Department of Human Services. He has also advised the UN Secretariat, UNICEF, and the International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation. Scott has authored 70+ evaluation reports across sectors including international development, health, education, Indigenous affairs, and governance. His expertise includes theories of change, results frameworks, impact evaluation, capacity building, and leveraging performance feedback for continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.