
Working with Assumptions in International Development Program Evaluation
With a Foreword by Michael Bamberger
Apollo M. Nkwake(Author)
Springer (Publisher)
Published on 19. September 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
XXII, 186 pages
978-1-4899-9333-5 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
A major reason complex programs are so difficult to evaluate is that the assumptions that inspire them are poorly articulated. Stakeholders of such programs are often unclear about how the change process will unfold. Thus, it is so difficult to reasonably anticipate the early and midterm changes that need to happen in order for a longer-term goalto be reached. The lack of clarity about the "mini-steps" that must be taken to reach a long-term outcome not only makes the task of evaluating a complex initiative challenging, but reduces the likelihood that all of the important factors related to the long term goal will be addressed. Most of the resources that have attempted to address this dilemma have been popularized as theory of change or sometimes program theory approaches. Although these approaches emphasize and elaborate the sequence of changes/mini steps that lead to the long-term goal of interest and the connections between program activities and outcomes that occur at each step of the way, they do not do enough to clarify how program managers or evaluators should deal with assumptions. Assumptions, the glue that holds all the pieces together, remain abstract and far from applicable.
In this book the author tackles this important assumptions theme head-on-covering a breadth of ground from the epistemology of development assumptions, to the art of making logical assumptions as well as recognizing, explicit zing and testing assumptions with in an elaborate program theory from program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
More details
Edition
2013
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Illustrations
20 s/w Tabellen
20 Tables, black and white; XXII, 186 p.
Dimensions
Height: 23.5 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Weight
3226 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4899-9333-5 (9781489993335)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4614-4797-9
Schweitzer Classification
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Apollo M. Nkwake
Working with Assumptions in International Development Program Evaluation
With a Foreword by Michael Bamberger
Book
12/2019
2nd Edition
Springer
€53.49
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Additional editions

Apollo M. Nkwake
Working with Assumptions in International Development Program Evaluation
With a Foreword by Michael Bamberger
Book
08/2012
Springer
€106.99
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Person
Apollo is a researcher with 12 years experience in evaluation of international development programs. He has led evaluation and strategy work for World Vision, Unicef, USAID, World Bank, Compassion International, among others. He is strong in conceptualization, methodology (quantitative and qualitative approaches) and documentation (more than 20 publications). He holds a PhD in Social Development from University of Cape Town.