 Planning
a Meaningful Evaluation
2.2
Think about theory of change and strategies
Strategies
for bringing about change
Isolate the strategy
or strategies that explain how various program
elements are expected to bring
about proposed
changes.
Need an example?
For instance, in a program to increase
positive self concept and self esteem in native
foster children, one activity may be to bring in native
guests
as positive
role models.
Two distinct strategies are
involved:
-
to build a sense of belonging
to First Nations’ culture
and to share its ethos by bringing
admired elders to teach traditional wisdom.
- to showcase
guests who are successful in modern,
mainstream activities to help youth
realize future possibilities for themselves.
The theory of change—how and why
a program is expected to work—prompts specific
questions to test the theory.
Consider indicators of
change, timing and contributing
factors, e.g.,
- How is
change expected to occur?
- When should/does change occur?
- Do changes occur in steps or stages?
- Is each stage recognizable?
- By what signs is each stage recognizable?
- What influences would have a bearing
on the changes, either enhancing or limited them?
Your
evaluation can provide information of importance
to the larger field
of youth development. Sometimes
differing strategies reinforce one
another and increase the effectiveness
of programming, particularly when
multiple aspects of children’s lives are included,
such as family and school.
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