Formative Research allows program managers and policy-makers to understand their communities better, in terms of people’s interests, characteristics and needs, as a way to improve program implementation.
Intervention Research involves testing new products or processes in the field, refining the intervention, and assessing the intervention in terms of its health impact in the community.
Situation Analysis uses case studies and qualitative research methods to explore a specific issue, such as mother and child health, reproductive health, or reproductive health behavior of young people.
Evaluation Research is undertaken to explore program implications of new policies such as decentralized health planning, community mobilization, and community monitoring.