Service Delivery Assessment (SDA) is a qualitative evaluation strategy focused on the "delivering" of social services, rather than on monitoring the implementation of programs or assessing program outcomes. Both data collection and analysis methods are qualitative in nature. Data are gathered by intensive interviewing of providers and recipients, on-site observation, and document analysis. The first task is to develop a written protocol or conceptual framework that articulates the main focus of the SDA and maps out the specific kinds of information sought, and the information sources and data collection strategies to be used. Site selection is the second task in designing the SDA. Sites selected should reflect the range of perspectives and diversity of operating practices in the delivery of the service under study. The three levels of analysis sought by the SDA evaluator are descriptive, comparative and interpretative. When viewed from the perspective of an approach to information gathering for policy and management, SDA offers a viable alternative to the quantitative and full blown qualitative approaches currently in use. (PN)