“Path analysis is conceptually compatible with TBE”

“Analysis of the sequences of data envisioned in TBE [theory-based evaluation] presents many challenges. The basic task is to see how well the evidence matches the theories that were posited. Path analysis is conceptually compatible with TBE and has been used by evaluators (Murray and Smith 1979; Smith 1990), but the recurrent problem is that important variables may be overlooked, the model is incomplete, and hence the results can be misleading. Structural equation modeling through LISREL techniques holds much promise, but it has been used only on a limited scale in evaluation.”