Representing Theories of Change: Technical Challenges and Evaluation Consequences

 

CEDIL – Centre for Evaluation Lecture Series
The Centre of Excellence for Development Impact and Learning (CEDIL) and the Centre for Evaluation host a lecture series addressing methods and innovation in primary studies.

Watch the live-streamed lecture here

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Lecture Two – Wednesday 30th May 2018 – Dr Rick Davies 12:45-14:00  Jerry Morris B, LSHTM 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH

“This lecture will summarise the main points of a paper of the same name. That paper looks at the technical issues associated with the representation of Theories of Change and the implications of design choices for the evaluability of those theories. The focus is on the description of connections between events, rather the events themselves, because this is seen as a widespread design weakness. Using examples and evidence from a range of Internet sources six structural problems are described, along with their consequences for evaluation. The paper then outlines six different ways of addressing these problems, which could be used by programme designers and by evaluators. These solutions range from simple to follow advice on designing more adequate diagrams, to the use of specialist software for the manipulation of much more complex static and dynamic network models. The paper concludes with some caution, speculating on why the design problems are so endemic but also pointing a way forward. Three strands of work are identified that CEDIL and DFID could invest in to develop solutions identified in the paper.”

The paper referred to in the lecture was commissioned by CEDIL and is now pending publication in a special issue of an evaluation journal

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