Establishing a baseline study

Prepared by Dr. Annastacia Musembi,

PhD, PMP.
 Introduction
• A baseline study is an essential component of monitoring and
evaluation in any project.
• It helps in assessing the current situation, identifying gaps,
and developing appropriate interventions.
 What is a Baseline Study?

• A baseline study is an initial assessment conducted before the

implementation of an intervention or project to gather data on the

current situation, attitudes, and behaviors of the target population.

• The data collected serves as a reference point against which progress

can be measured and evaluated throughout the project life cycle.

• The baseline study provides a clear understanding of the current

situation, identifies the gaps, and provides valuable insights that

guide the development of appropriate interventions and the

establishment of indicators to track progress towards achieving

desired outcomes.
• The baseline study is a critical component of M&E
Planning and it is conducted to establish a baseline or
starting point for monitoring and evaluating the impact of
an intervention or project.
• It provides data that is used to measure the effectiveness
of the intervention, and it helps to identify the changes
that occur as a result of the intervention.
• Without a baseline study, it is difficult to measure the
impact of an intervention accurately.
 Purpose of a Baseline Study

• The following are some of the specific purposes of a baseline study:

– Establishing a Baseline: The baseline study provides a starting point for

monitoring and evaluating the impact of the intervention. It provides a

reference point against which progress can be measured and evaluated

throughout the project cycle.

– Identifying Gaps: The baseline study helps to identify gaps in the current

situation. It provides valuable insights that guide the development of

appropriate interventions.

– Establishing Indicators: The baseline study helps to establish the types of

indicators to track progress towards achieving desired outcomes. The

indicators help to measure the effectiveness of the intervention.

– Developing Appropriate Interventions: The baseline study

provides data that guides the development of appropriate

interventions.

– It helps to identify the needs of the target population, and it

provides insights that guide the development of effective

interventions.

– Measuring Impact: The baseline study provides data that is

used to measure the impact of the intervention. It helps to

identify the changes that occur as a result of the intervention.

 Conducting a Baseline Study

The following are the steps involved in conducting a baseline study:

Step 1: Define the Objectives

• The first step in conducting a baseline study is to define the
objectives. The objectives should be specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). The objectives
should be designed to answer the following questions:
– What is the current situation?

– What are the needs of the target population?

– What are the gaps in the current situation?

– What are the expected outcomes of the intervention?

 Step 2: Define the Scope

• The second step in conducting a baseline study is to define

the scope.
• The scope should be designed to answer the following
questions:
– Who is the target population?

– What is the geographic scope?

– What is the timeframe for the study?

– What are the data sources?

 Step 3: Develop Data Collection Tools
• The third step in conducting a baseline study is to develop
data collection tools.
• The data collection tools should be designed to answer the
research questions identified in the objectives.
• The data collection tools can be in the form of surveys,
interviews, focus group discussions, observation, or a
combination of these methods.
• The data collection tools should be designed to collect both
quantitative and qualitative data.
• For quantitative data collection, structured questionnaires or surveys can be
used.
• The questions should be designed to collect data on the indicators identified
in the objectives.
• The questionnaires should be pre-tested to ensure that they are
understandable and relevant to the target population.
• For qualitative data collection, semi-structured interviews, focus group
discussions, or observation can be used.
• The qualitative data should be collected to provide in-depth insights into the
attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of the target population.
• The qualitative data can be collected through open-ended questions, probing,
or observation.
 Step 4: Pilot Test the Data Collection Tools

• The fourth step in conducting a baseline study is to pilot test the

data collection tools.
• The pilot test should be conducted on a small sample of the target
population to identify any errors or weaknesses in the data
collection tools.
• The pilot test should also be used to identify any logistical or
practical issues that may arise during data collection.
• The pilot test should be conducted in a similar setting to the actual
data collection.
 Step 5: Collect Data

• The fifth step in conducting a baseline study is to collect data.

• The data collection should be conducted in a systematic and organized manner.

• The data collectors should be trained on the data collection tools, the research

objectives, and ethical considerations.

• The data collectors should also be trained on how to approach the target population

and obtain informed consent.

• During data collection, it is essential to ensure that the data is of good quality.

• The data should be collected without bias, and the data collectors should avoid

leading questions.

• The data collectors should also ensure that the data is complete, accurate, and

consistent.
 Step 6: Analyze Data

• The sixth step in conducting a baseline study is to analyze the data.

• The data collected should be entered into a database or spreadsheet for analysis.

• The data should be cleaned, coded, and checked for accuracy.

• The data should then be analyzed using statistical software such as SPSS or

Excel.

• The quantitative data should be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as

frequency, mean, and standard deviation.

• The qualitative data should be analyzed using content analysis or thematic

analysis.

• The analysis should be conducted to answer the research questions identified in

the objectives.
 Step 7: Interpret Findings

• The seventh step in conducting a baseline study is to interpret the

findings.
• The findings should be interpreted in the context of the research
objectives and the target population.
• The findings should be used to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of the current situation, and to identify the gaps that
need to be addressed through the intervention.
 Step 8: Develop a Baseline Report

• The eighth step in conducting a baseline study is to develop a

baseline report.
• The baseline report should include a summary of the research
objectives, the research methodology, the findings, and the
conclusions.
• The report should also include recommendations for the
development of appropriate interventions.
 Step 9: Share the Baseline Report

• The ninth step in conducting a baseline study is to share the

baseline report.
• The report should be shared with the stakeholders, including the
project team, funders, and the target population.
• The report should also be shared with other organizations and
individuals who may be interested in the findings.
 Step 10: Use Findings to Develop Appropriate Interventions

• The tenth and final step in conducting a baseline study is to use

the findings to develop appropriate interventions.

• The interventions should be developed based on the gaps

identified in the baseline study.

• The interventions should be evidence-based, and they should be

designed to address the identified issues.

• The interventions developed should be realistic and feasible, and

they should be aligned with the goals and objectives of the

project.
• The interventions should be developed in consultation with the

stakeholders, including the target population, project team, and

funders.

• The interventions developed should be monitored and evaluated

regularly to ensure that they are achieving the desired results.

• The monitoring and evaluation should be done using the same

methods and indicators used in the baseline study.

• The results of the monitoring and evaluation should be used to

make necessary adjustments to the interventions.