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Program theory evaluation: Logic analysis

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  • Brousselle, Astrid
  • Champagne, François

Abstract

Program theory evaluation, which has grown in use over the past 10 years, assesses whether a program is designed in such a way that it can achieve its intended outcomes. This article describes a particular type of program theory evaluation--logic analysis--that allows us to test the plausibility of a program's theory using scientific knowledge. Logic analysis is useful for improving the intervention or finding alternatives for achieving intended outcomes; it influences the choice of type of evaluation to conduct and strengthens the validity of subsequent evaluations. The objective of this article is to present the methodological principles and the roots of this type of program theory evaluation. We illustrate two types of logic analysis with two actual evaluation cases. There are very few published examples of program theory evaluation. This article will provide evaluators with both theoretical and practical information to help them in conceptualizing their evaluations.

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  • Brousselle, Astrid & Champagne, François, 2011. "Program theory evaluation: Logic analysis," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 69-78, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:34:y:2011:i:1:p:69-78
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    13. Gisela Cardoso & Elizabeth Moreira Santos & Yibeltal Kiflie & Kifle Woldemichael & Suzanne Wilson & Wuleta Lemma, 2017. "Strategic analysis of tuberculosis prevention and control actions in Brazil and Ethiopia: one size fits all?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(2), pages 305-315, March.
    14. Harman, Elena & Azzam, Tarek, 2018. "Towards program theory validation: Crowdsourcing the qualitative analysis of participant experiences," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 183-194.
    15. Toby Newstead & Sarah Dawkins & Rob Macklin & Angela Martin, 2020. "The Virtues Project: An Approach to Developing Good Leaders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(4), pages 605-622, December.
    16. Deane, Kelsey L. & Harré, Niki, 2014. "Program theory-driven evaluation science in a youth development context," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 61-70.
    17. Desjardins, Émilie & Sultan-Taïeb, Hélène & St-Hilaire, France & Vézina, Nicole & Ledoux, Élise & Naji, Rita & Bélanger, Patricia, 2023. "Implementation process evaluation of an ergonomic train the trainer program: How to learn from mechanisms and the temporal structure of processes?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    18. Tremblay, Marie-Claude & Brousselle, Astrid & Richard, Lucie & Beaudet, Nicole, 2013. "Defining, illustrating and reflecting on logic analysis with an example from a professional development program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 64-73.
    19. Tarik Benmarhnia & Pierre-Alexandre Dionne & Éric Tchouaket & Alvine K. Fansi & Astrid Brousselle, 2017. "Investing in a healthy lifestyle strategy: is it worth it?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(1), pages 3-13, January.
    20. Cartier, Yuri & Benmarhnia, Tarik & Brousselle, Astrid, 2015. "Tool for assessing health and equity impacts of interventions modifying air quality in urban environments," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-9.
    21. Dunkley, Ria A. & Franklin, Alex, 2017. "Failing better: The stochastic art of evaluating community-led environmental action programs," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 112-122.
    22. Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi & Nieuwenhuis, Sonja & Ologun, Adesoji & Mortimore, Gordon & Mpakateni, Martin, 2019. "Embedding value-for-money in practice: A case study of a health pooled fund programme implemented in conflict-affected South Sudan," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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