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Theory in Evaluation

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Working with Assumptions in International Development Program Evaluation

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Abstract

This chapter distinguishes among social science theory, evaluation theory, evaluators’ theory, and program theory and between results chains and theories of change. It demonstrates that logic models are incomplete if they do not spell out the assumptions (implicit or behind-the-scenes concepts, conditions, and qualifications) within the linkages or arrows in a results chain that explains why one result is expected to lead to another.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postulate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Questions LLC, Maryland, MD, USA

    Apollo M. Nkwake

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  1. Apollo M. Nkwake
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Nkwake, A.M. (2020). Theory in Evaluation. In: Working with Assumptions in International Development Program Evaluation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33004-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33004-0_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-33003-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-33004-0

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