Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity

Evaluation has a long history of using experimental and quasi-experimental designs to measure the effects of programs and strategies, and through this, to infer causality. Yet, these approaches are often not appropriate when evaluating change in complex, dynamic systems. Further, programs and strate...

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Auteurs principaux: Lynn, Jewlya, Apgar, Marina
Format: Online
Langue:anglais
Publié: Edward Elgar Publishing 2024
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Accès en ligne:https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/139168
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author Lynn, Jewlya
Apgar, Marina
author_browse Apgar, Marina
Lynn, Jewlya
author_facet Lynn, Jewlya
Apgar, Marina
author_sort Lynn, Jewlya
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description Evaluation has a long history of using experimental and quasi-experimental designs to measure the effects of programs and strategies, and through this, to infer causality. Yet, these approaches are often not appropriate when evaluating change in complex, dynamic systems. Further, programs and strategies that seek to produce change in complex settings are increasingly common. This leads to an evaluation dilemma: if and how do evaluators attend to causality amid complexity? Too often, the answer has been to use causal thinking in the design of the evaluation and interpretation of findings, but not incorporate causal analysis and inference. In practice, this allows for assumptions about how change happens to go unchallenged. In this chapter, we explore the use of causal analysis through methods designed to attend to complexity and context, strengthened by participatory implementation, that can be implemented with rigor.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1391682024-07-02T10:08:04Z Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity Lynn, Jewlya Apgar, Marina Causal pathways; Causal analysis; Participation; Rigor; Systems change JPP Evaluation has a long history of using experimental and quasi-experimental designs to measure the effects of programs and strategies, and through this, to infer causality. Yet, these approaches are often not appropriate when evaluating change in complex, dynamic systems. Further, programs and strategies that seek to produce change in complex settings are increasingly common. This leads to an evaluation dilemma: if and how do evaluators attend to causality amid complexity? Too often, the answer has been to use causal thinking in the design of the evaluation and interpretation of findings, but not incorporate causal analysis and inference. In practice, this allows for assumptions about how change happens to go unchallenged. In this chapter, we explore the use of causal analysis through methods designed to attend to complexity and context, strengthened by participatory implementation, that can be implemented with rigor. Published 2024-07-02T10:08:00Z 2024-07-02T10:08:00Z 2024-06-14 chapter 9781803928289 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/139168 eng image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/research-handbook-on-program-evaluation-9781803928272.html https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap-oa/book/9781803928289/book-part-9781803928289-25.xml Edward Elgar Publishing Edward Elgar Publishing 10.4337/9781803928289.00025 10.4337/9781803928289.00025 01ceac28-75b4-492a-8eec-f9b98bc6b28c https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ 9781803928289 Edward Elgar Publishing Cheltenham, UK open access
spellingShingle Causal pathways; Causal analysis; Participation; Rigor; Systems change
JPP
Lynn, Jewlya
Apgar, Marina
Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title_full Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title_fullStr Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title_full_unstemmed Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title_short Chapter 16: Exploring causal pathways amid complexity
title_sort chapter 16 exploring causal pathways amid complexity
topic Causal pathways; Causal analysis; Participation; Rigor; Systems change
JPP
topic_facet Causal pathways; Causal analysis; Participation; Rigor; Systems change
JPP
url https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/139168
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