Skip to content

The Evidence Question: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning for Practice

Reading list

Every reading this course assigns, module by module, with the best free copy we could find.

46 readings24 free to read4 on request18 books

A free copy is the published text, or the author's own manuscript held by a university repository, which has the same content without the journal's layout. A subscription reading opens at the publisher, where your library may give you access. If it does not, request a copy and we will reply by email. Books link to their publisher.

Module 1. Module 1: MEL - History, Variations & Foundations

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-Focused Evaluation, 4th edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  3. Chambers, R. (1997). Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last. Intermediate Technology Publications.Publisher pageBook
  4. Kusek, J. Z. and Rist, R. C. (2004). Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System: A Handbook for Development Practitioners. World Bank.Read it free

Module 2. Module 2: Theory of Change & Logic Models

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Center for Theory of Change (n.d.). What is Theory of Change? Center for Theory of Change.Read it free
  3. Weiss, C. H. (1995). Nothing as Practical as Good Theory: Exploring Theory-Based Evaluation for Comprehensive Community Initiatives for Children and Families. In Connell, J. P., Kubisch, A. C., Schorr, L. B. and Weiss, C. H. (eds), New Approaches to Evaluating Community Initiatives, Vol. 1: Concepts, Methods, and Contexts, 65-92. Aspen Institute.Publisher pageBook
  4. Mayne, J. (2015). Useful Theory of Change Models. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 30(2), 119-142.Publisher pageSubscription
  5. Funnell, S. C. and Rogers, P. J. (2011). Purposeful Program Theory: Effective Use of Theories of Change and Logic Models. Jossey-Bass/Wiley.Publisher pageBook

Module 3. Module 3: Indicator Design & Frameworks

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Bamberger, M., Rugh, J. and Mabry, L. (2012). RealWorld Evaluation: Working Under Budget, Time, Data, and Political Constraints, 2nd edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  3. United Nations Development Programme (2009). Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results. UNDP.Read it free

Module 4. Module 4: Baselines, Targets & Benchmarks

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Grosh, M. and Glewwe, P. (eds) (2000). Designing Household Survey Questionnaires for Developing Countries: Lessons from 15 Years of the Living Standards Measurement Study. World Bank.Read it free
  3. Chambers, R. (2008). Revolutions in Development Inquiry. Earthscan.Publisher pageBook

Module 5. Module 5: Data Collection Methods

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Kish, L. (1965). Survey Sampling. John Wiley and Sons.Publisher pageBook
  3. Deaton, A. (1997). The Analysis of Household Surveys: A Microeconometric Approach to Development Policy. Johns Hopkins University Press for the World Bank.Read it free

Module 6. Module 6: Data Quality Assurance

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 4th edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  3. Chambers, R. (1997). Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last, chs. 6-8. Intermediate Technology Publications.Publisher pageBook

Module 7. Module 7: Quantitative Analysis

  1. Hernán, M. A. and Robins, J. M. (2020). Causal Inference: What If. Chapman and Hall/CRC.Read it free
  2. Creswell, J. W. and Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 3rd edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  3. Stern, E., Stame, N., Mayne, J., Forss, K., Davies, R. and Befani, B. (2012). Broadening the Range of Designs and Methods for Impact Evaluations. DFID Working Paper 38. Department for International Development.Read it free

Module 8. Module 8: Qualitative Analysis

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.Publisher pageSubscription
  3. White, H. (2009). Theory-Based Impact Evaluation: Principles and Practice. 3ie Working Paper 3. International Initiative for Impact Evaluation.Read it free

Module 9. Module 9: Evaluation Design & the OECD-DAC Framework

  1. German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) (2018). The OECD-DAC Evaluation Criteria: To Reform or to Transform? DEval Policy Brief 9/2018. DEval.Read it free
  2. Deaton, A. (2010). Instruments, Randomization, and Learning about Development. Journal of Economic Literature, 48(2), 424-455.Publisher pageSubscription

Module 10. Module 10: Learning Systems & Adaptive Management

  1. USAID (2021). USAID: Collaborating, Learning and Adapting. In OECD, Development Co-operation Tips, Tools, Insights and Practices. OECD Publishing.Read it free
  2. Dhaliwal, I., Duflo, E., Glennerster, R. and Tulloch, C. (2013). Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis to Inform Policy in Developing Countries: A General Framework with Applications for Education. In Glewwe, P. (ed.), Education Policy in Developing Countries, 285-338. University of Chicago Press.Publisher pageSubscription
  3. Levin, H. M. and McEwan, P. J. (2001). Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Methods and Applications, 2nd edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook

Module 11. Module 11: MEL Technology & Data Systems

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Gentzkow, M. and Shapiro, J. M. (2014). Code and Data for the Social Sciences: A Practitioner's Guide. University of Chicago.Read it free

Module 12. Module 12: MEL Leadership & Sustainability

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Schwabish, J. (2021). Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks. Columbia University Press.Publisher pageBook
  3. Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-Focused Evaluation, 4th edition, ch. 11. Sage.Publisher pageBook

Module 13. Module 13: Capstone Project

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Andrews, M., Pritchett, L. and Woolcock, M. (2017). Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action. Oxford University Press.Read it free
  3. Patton, M. Q. (2011). Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use. Guilford Press.Publisher pageBook

Module 14. Module 14: Building Your Own MEL System

  1. Gertler, P. J., Martinez, S., Premand, P., Rawlings, L. B. and Vermeersch, C. M. J. (2016). Impact Evaluation in Practice, 2nd edition. Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.Read it free
  2. Kusek, J. Z. and Rist, R. C. (2004). Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System: A Handbook for Development Practitioners. World Bank.Read it free
  3. Patton, M. Q. (2011). Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use. Guilford Press.Publisher pageBook
  4. Bamberger, M., Rugh, J. and Mabry, L. (2012). RealWorld Evaluation: Working Under Budget, Time, Data, and Political Constraints, 2nd edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  5. Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-Focused Evaluation, 4th edition. Sage.Publisher pageBook
  6. Chambers, R. (1997). Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last. Intermediate Technology Publications.Publisher pageBook

Request a copy

Tell us where to send it. We read every request and reply by email when we can share a copy.

We use these details only to answer this request. See the privacy policy.