Theory-based evaluation – a possible Venn

Theory-based evaluation – a possible Venn, with a long and often-forgotten history.

Two diagrams. The first, shows common usage of the terms "counterfactual impact evaluation" and "theory-based impact evaluation". They are two rectangles side-by-side, separated, with a space between.

The second more obviously Venn diagram, titled a possible alternative, depicts three kinds of evaluation that are all included within theory-based evaluation. These are quantitative impact evaluation, qualitative impact evaluation, and, in the overlapping region between then, mixed methods impact evaluation.

Example readings

Cook, T. D. (2000). The false choice between theory-based evaluation and experimentation. In A. Petrosino, P. J. Rogers, T. A. Huebner, & T. A. Hacsi (Eds.), New directions in evaluation: Program Theory in Evaluation: Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 27–34). Jossey-Bass.

Chen, H.-T., & Rossi, P. H. (1983). Evaluating With Sense: The Theory-Driven Approach. Evaluation Review, 7(3), 283–302

Fitz-Gibbon, C. T., & Morris, L. L. (1975). Theory-based evaluation. Evaluation Comment, 5(1), 1–4. Reprinted in Fitz-Gibbon, C. T., & Morris, L. L. (1996). Theory-based evaluation. Evaluation Practice, 17(2), 177–184.

Reichardt, C. S. (2022). The Counterfactual Definition of a Program Effect. American Journal of Evaluation, 43(2), 158–174.

Weiss, C. H. (1972). Evaluation research: Methods of assessing program effectiveness. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Suggested citation: Fugard, A. (2025, January 19). Theory-based evaluation – a possible Venn [blog post]. https://andifugard.info/theory-based-evaluation-a-venn/

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