Measurement vs action: how much money should we spend figuring out what works?

Few would argue against measurement in theory. But anyone involved in philanthropic measurement knows that the best evaluations are very expensive and time-consuming. Thus the question isn’t whether measurement is good but whether rigorous impact analysis is good value. Pointing to a long and rich history of failures and unintended consequences, a new generation of donors and researchers contend that rigorous evaluations are desperately needed, and relying on studies that don’t meet the highest standards is sure to continue the pattern.