Building and Using a Theory of Change
Date:
12/09/2024 - 13/09/2024
Organised by:
Social Research Association
Presenter:
Professor David Parsons
Level:
Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)
Contact:
Patricia Cornell
training@the-sra.org.uk
Venue: Online
Description:
Introduction/Overview
Putting together a Theory of Change (ToC) which is specific to a policy, initiative or programme is increasingly seen as a foundation for effective problem-centred programme development and innovation by central and local government, NGOs, voluntary and community sector bodies and others. This course aims to demystify the confusion about what constitutes an effective ToC and to raise the understanding and ambition of researchers and evaluators about how to best go about developing and harnessing these. A ‘good’ ToC is a valuable framework for shaping ‘novel’ programmes and for putting in place focussed, cost-effective and proportionate methodologies to monitor progression, assess their effects and effectiveness and inform lessons for improved practice. This intensive course provides a broad understanding of how ‘theory building’ contributes to policy and programme development, and how to go about developing a cause-effect chain to underpin a fit for purpose ToC. It will provide participants with the confidence and practical skills to work with colleagues, partners and stakeholders to help put together practical ToCs for policy and programme development, monitoring, research and evaluation.
Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
Appreciate what is ‘theory building,’ where it comes from, its relevance and benefits for programme development and evaluation.
Understand alternative approaches to theory building including the differences between logic mapping and ToCs.
Recognise the role, use and value of ‘baseline assessments’ as the foundation of effective theory building.
Understand also what is needed of a cause-effect and implementation chain in theory building, and how to shape and structure the essential content of ToCs.
Recognise the uses of coproduction and engagement in ToC building (and use) and how to work proportionately with stakeholders.
Be aware of different options for presentation of ToCs and guidelines on what a ‘good’ ToC looks like as well as the development pitfalls to avoid.
Topics
This is a practical and not theoretical course. It use a mixture of taught sessions, plenary discussion and Q&A, and practical scenario-based exercises to cover:
What is theory building in policy and programme development and review; where does it add value to complex (multi-causal) intervention circumstances and in what situations and when can it best be used?
Use of RERs and meta-analyses in putting together a theory baseline; unpicking the role of scoping, institutional mapping and change receptiveness.
A ‘building blocks’ approach to theory building to unpick the ‘theory’ elements including intervention ‘context, short-medium-and longer term ’expectations’ of anticipated success, a predictive model of working ‘assumptions’ and possible disruption ‘risks.’
Presenting the theory of change – providing for content and user orientation; what should a ‘good’ ToC look like - combining graphic and narrative and an introduction to ToC presentation software.
Collaboration in developing, testing and using ToCs; what stakeholders to involve in ‘partnering’ methods and how best to use their knowledge and time including through group work and structured ToC workshops.
Who will benefit?
The course will benefit practitioners who are new to, or looking to demystify, Theory of Change and to better understand how the practical use of ToCs can add value to policy and programme development, learning and improvement. It will be especially relevant to those specifying, managing or conducting policy or programme research or evaluation in or for central and local government, funding bodies, NGOs, or voluntary, community and charitable bodies. For those whose main interest is in using ToCs in theory-based evaluation methods the course will include an introduction to analytical methods, but SRA would point to its accompanying one-day course on Theory-based Evaluation: Options and Choices which concentrates on this in much more detail.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course participants from policy, analytical, research or evaluation backgrounds will be introduced to the distinctive features, content and use of ToCs and their practical development for public policy, social and community development contexts. The course will help them to better understand how to prepare for, formulate, and present an effective and fit for purpose ToC and its use. They will also gain insights into essential ‘content’ identification and testing of cause-effect chains and applying proportionate approaches to stakeholder collaboration in putting this together.
Course tutor
Professor David Parsons is a long-standing evaluation specialist, consultant and ‘peer’ trainer who has many years’ experience of advising government departments, agencies, regulators and charitable trusts on evaluation. A practising evaluator, in the last two decades he has led approaching 60 independent evaluations of policy and programmes, many theory-based, across nine government departments, UK research councils, various non-departmental agencies, devolved administrations, European Commission, UN agencies, OECD and others. He is an authority on cross-conceptual approaches to evaluation applied in complex settings and has facilitated and advised on ToC development for programme development and evaluation for many public bodies and others. David is a member of the joint HM Treasury-Cabinet Office Evaluation Trial and Advice Panel.
David leads SRA's course programme for practitioner evaluation training, and is author of Demystifying Evaluation Policy Press, 2017) and a number of guidebooks on evaluation design.
Cost:
£165 for SRA members, £220 for non-members
Website and registration:
Region:
International
Keywords:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs, Data Collection, Data Quality and Data Management , Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis, Research Management and Impact, Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination
Related publications and presentations:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs
Data Collection
Data Quality and Data Management
Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis
Research Management and Impact
Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination