Nothing in research can fluence more than the cost of study

In an evaluation study of Government of India the evaluation proposals were invited for longitudinal study for different states. IIDM was selected for Bihar State with a budget for 3 consecutive data collection years at a cost of more than INR 3.00 Million. Another reputed organization bid for Maharashtra for more than INR 6.0 Million with same sample size. But another research organization quoted only INR 1.0 Million per state for 4 states. Out of the lot the organization with 1.0 Million quotation was allotted 3 states. All other bids kept pending with out any communication for years. When asked the processing organization, it had no answer. One may conclude research &  evaluation has no standards of measurement &  no norms &  values.

Parkinson's Law in M&E Research

The research today has become a commodity to be manufactured as tailor-made-product. The client decides the budget & the sample size upto primary sampling unit. Now as researcher you are to design the size of respondents to fit the budget. Now all your research design is to suit the budget. Therefore one can introduce corollary to "Parkinson's Law- The research design expands as per the budget available". I have seen top research organizations of the country following this law while submitting the proposal of evaluating National Development Scheme of a famous Ministry of Govt. of India.