Research Methods and Tools

Abstract

This chapter details the research methods for assessing climate change adaptation among farm families. The methods cover two types of procedures: benchmarking and evaluation. The authors define benchmarking as the documentation, measurement and analysis of current adaptation practice in any given target group, organization or community for purposes of comparison, internal or external, to a given standard, de facto or otherwise. Benchmarking is not done within the bounds of project parameters (i.e., time and resources) and project-determined outcomes. On the other hand, evaluation refers to baseline, mid-term, final and ex-post measurements of adaptation practice vis a vis given interventions. Evaluation is conducted within set project parameters and project-determined outcomes.