DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY – The Socio-Economics Research Division of PCAARRD, with the assistance of the newly established Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), conducted two-batches of five-day training titled ”Quantitative Methods for Impact Evaluation of Research and Development Projects” recently at the PSRTI office.
The training aimed to beef up the capacities of and equipped the Council’s network of implementers in conducting quantitative analysis.
The training was attended by 50 professors, researchers, deans and chairpersons from 12 state universities and colleges from the National Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN). Also in attendance were SERD Director Dr. Albert P. Aquino and selected staff.
The resource persons for the training were Prof. Manuel Leonard F. Albis, Professor at the School of Statistics in UP DIliman; Dr. Dennis S. Mapa, Dean of the School of Statistics in UP Diliman; and Dr. Zita VJ. Albacea, Executive Director of PSRTI.
The resource persons provided the participants with the different quantitative methods for impact evaluation studies and also taught them basic techniques in using statistical tools to aid in data analysis.
Propensity Score Matching (PSM), the Difference-in-differences method (DID), and Instrumental Variables Method (IV) were among the quantitative methods discussed in the training.
The training series is part of the long-term plan of SERD to establish and strengthen Impact Assessment teams from the Council’s network of implementers. On the other hand, the PSRTI, as part of their mandate, provides assistance in conducting research especially statistical studies and trainings.
The Impact Evaluation training is one of the “customized and specialized” trainings that the agency provides apart from the regular trainings that they conduct. PSRTI, formerly the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC), was created in September 2013 pursuant to RA 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 which reorganizes the Philippine Statistical System.