PROCESS
indicators for
intermediate
steps in causal
models
|
When constructing causal models, the PROCESS indicators will generally relate to measurement of the intermediate steps in the chain of causation (proximal or distal causes), while the OUTCOME indicators will be used to measure humanitarian conditions.
For both categories of indicator (PROCESS and OUTCOME) some can be used as reference benchmarks with which future changes can be compared (i.e., a “Baseline”, see section 4.1), while others will be more suitable for measuring change during sanctions. Examples of the types of indicators that can be used for measurement of baseline and changes in conditions include: |
Indicators
for baseline
conditions
and
for measuring
change |
• Infant mortality rates change slowly over time in most countries. baseline They are frequently used to characterize the overall conditions conditions and of life in a country because they are influenced by many variables. for measuring For humanitarian assessments in crisis situations, measurement of changes in the weight at time of birth is usually more useful, as it changes quickly in a population as access to food during pregnancy changes.
• Access to or lack of access to piped (indoor) water and sanitary waste disposal improves or deteriorates slowly, whereas the amount of water pumped or the bacteriologic quality of water changes quickly, depending on inputs of electricity and chlorine.
• Household assets (wealth, land, investments) accumulate over a long period of time and also change slowly in crises, whereas household income responds much more quickly to changes in employment, productivity and rates of exchange. |
