Applying contribution analysis: Lessons from five years of practice

Evaluation

Volumn 18, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 281-293

  Delahais, Thomas ^a   Toulemonde, Jacques ^b  

^a Eureval ^*  (France)

^b UNIVERSITÉ DE LYON   (France)

Author keywords

causal claim; causal mechanism; contribution analysis; impact evaluation; logic model; theory of change; theory based evaluation

Indexed keywords

EID: 84863679746     PISSN: 13563890     EISSN: 14617153     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/1356389012450810     Document Type: Article

References (29)

1. Astbury B,Leeuw F.Unpacking black boxes: mechanisms and theory building in evaluation.American Journal of Evaluation. 2010;31 (3): 363-81.
2. EC (2007a) Evaluation of the European Commission's support to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. URL:http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/evaluation/evaluation_reports/2007/1087_docs_en.htm.
3. EC (2007b) Evaluation of the Integrated Guideline Package (IGP)for Growth and Jobs. URL: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/evaluation/pdf/final_report_ipg_en.pdf.
4. Evaluation of promotion measures of European agricultural products in third countries (not available online). 2008;:.
5. EC (2009) Evaluation of the Plan D / Debate Europe citizen consultation projects. URL:http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/communication/pdf/evaluation_citizens_consultations_sep2009_en.pdf.
6. EC (2010) Study on the Return on ESF Investment in Human Capital. URL:http://ec.europa.eu/esf/BlobServlet?docId=160&langId=en.
7. Gerring J.Causal mechanisms: yes, but Comparative Political Studies. 2010;43 (11): 1499-526.
8. Greene JAdvancing Validity in Outcome Evaluation: Theory and Practice. New Directions for Evaluation 130. Chen HTDonaldson SIMark MM, ed. San Francisco, CA: Wiley; 2011:81-91.
9. Hedstrom PCambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2005:.
10. Lemire ST,Nielsen SB,Dybdal L.Making contribution analysis work: A practical framework for handling influencing factors and alternative explanations.Evaluation. 2012;18 (3): 294-309.
11. Mackie JLThe Cement of the Universe: A Study of Causation. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1974:.
12. Marra M.The contribution of evaluation to socialization and externalization of tacit knowledge: the case of the World Bank.Evaluation. 2004;10 (3): 263-83.
13. MayneJ (1999) Addressing attribution through contribution analysis: using performance measures sensibly. Discussion paper. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. URL: http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/FA3-31-1999E.pdf.
14. Mayne J.Addressing attribution through contribution analysis: using performance measures sensibly.Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 2001;16 (1): 1-24.
15. MayneJ (2008) Contribution Analysis: An Approach to Exploring Cause and Effect. ILAC Brief No. 16: Rome: The Institutional Learning and Change Initiative. URL: http://www.cgiar-ilac.org/files/publications/briefs/ILAC_Brief16_Contribution_Analysis.pdf.
16. Mayne JEvaluating the Complex. Schwartz RForss KMarra M, ed. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers; 2011:53-96.
17. Mayne J.Contribution analysis: Coming of age?.Evaluation. 2012;18 (3): 270-280.
18. MonnierE (2009) Designing a contribution analysis for assessing expected impacts. Workshop material for the Cairo Conference on Perspectives on Impact Evaluation. URL: http://www.3ieimpact.org/userfiles/file/W-15.zip.
19. Oswald ME,Grosjean SCognitive Illusions: A Handbook on Fallacies and Biases in Thinking, Judgement and Memory. Pohl RF, ed. Hove: Psychology Press; 2004:79-96.
20. Patton MQ.A utilization-focused approach to contribution analysis.Evaluation. 2012;18 (3): 364-377.
21. Pawson R.Evidence-based policy: the promise of 'realist synthesis'.Evaluation. 2002;8 (3): 340-58.
22. Pawson R,Tilley NRealistic Evaluation. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE; 1997:.
23. Rogers PJ.Using programme theory to evaluate complicated and complex aspects of interventions.Evaluation. 2008;14:29-48.
24. ScrivenM (2005) Can we infer causation from cross-sectional data? Paper for the National Academy of Sciences. URL: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bota/School-Level%20Data_Michael%20Scriven-Paper.pdf.
25. Sridharan S,Nakaima A.Towards an evidence base of theory-driven evaluations: Some questions for proponents of theory-driven evaluation.Evaluation. 2012;18 (3): 378-395.
26. ToulemondeJ (2010) Evaluating impact through a contribution analysis. Workshop at the Prague Conference of the European Evaluation Society. URL: http://www.ees2010prague.org/images/file/W404_Evaluating%20Impact%20through%20a.pdf.
27. Toulemonde J,Carpenter D,Raffier LEvaluating the Complex: Attribution, Contribution, and Beyond. Forss KMarra MSchwartz R, ed. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers; 2011:.
28. Weiss CH.How can theory-based evaluation make greater headway?.Evaluation Review. 1997;21:501-24.
29. WhiteH (2009) Theory-based impact evaluation: principles and practice, international initiative on impact evaluation. URL: http://www.3ieimpact.org.