Problems? What Problems? We Have None at All: Qualitative Data Collection for Impact Assessment

Increasing interest in impact assessment of microfinance and other development interventions highlights the need to understand links between activities and outcomes in order that programs and services can be improved. This paper draws out the complexities of using prompting and open-ended questions in semistructured interviews and also considers entry points for field research. This is done with reference to a study of the impact of microfinance on women in poor areas of Cajamarca, Peru. Drawing on findings from over eighteen months of fieldwork, it examines the trials and pitfalls in question design and suggests guidelines for better practice.