who developed the theory of change{ keyword }

The challenge that emerges is, therefore, how to sustain their support while letting others develop the theory. This essay describes the connections between a theory of change and change theory and provides examples of how change theory can inform a projects theory of change. Theories of Change | SpringerLink Perceived behavioral control has similarities to self-efficacy, and deals with an individuals confidence in their ability to perform a behavior successfully (Ajzen, 1991; Bandura, 1997). By making the underlying rationale of an initiative explicit, it can be interrogated, assessed, and revised systematically as it is being implemented (cf. Ideally, a theory of change specifies one or more indicators for each precondition and the long-term outcome. Derting, T. L., Ebert-May, D., Henkel, T. P., Maher, J. M., Arnold, B., & Passmore, H. A. Between 2000 2002, the Aspen Roundtable for Community Change led the dissemination and case studies of the Theory of Change approach, although still mostly applied to the field of community initiatives. To help achieve these aims in a comprehensive, systematic and sustainable way in keeping with the underlying principles of the One Health approach, OHHLEP has developed an over-arching Theory of Change (ToC) in addition to the One Health definition also published by the panel. Developing a theory of c hange: A guide to developing a theory of change as a framework for inclusive dialogue, lear ning and accountability for social impact, p. 18. Using theory of change to design and evaluate public health All rights reserved Theories Behavioral Psychology The 6 Stages of Change The Transtheoretical, or Stages of Change, Model By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Updated on December 19, 2022 Reviewed by David Susman, PhD Table of Contents View All Getting Started The Model Examples Limitations Stage 1: Precontemplation (1991). Weiss, Carol (1995). A key challenge faced by projects aiming to enact change in undergraduate STEM education is knowing what actions are likely to result in the desired outcomes within the targeted system. Evaluating Strategy. (2002). 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 (Weiss, 1995). For instance, research on social networks can be useful because it helps identify opinion leaders and tracks relationships across a social system, such as a department (e.g., Andrews, Conaway, Zhao, & Dolan, 2016; Grunspan, Wiggins, & Goodreau, 2014; Hayward & Laursen, 2018; Quardokus & Henderson, 2015). A tool to develop your Theory of Change Kurt Lewin, known as the father of social psychology, developed a well-known three-step model for organizational change ( Lewin, 1958 ). Why theories of change matter (No. Physical Review Special Topics-Physics Education Research, 9(1), 010114. Weiss popularized the term Theory of Change as a way to describe the set of assumptions that explain both the mini-steps that lead to the long-term goal and the connections between program activities and outcomes that occur at each step of the way. The process of creating the theory of change allows a team to reach consensus on its underlying assumptions, which are then codified in an explicit product (often displayed as a diagram). Some teams may find it helpful to adapt the template to better suit their program, for instance, by adding a column or other elements. London: The Justice and Security Research Programme, London School of Economics. Theory of Change can begin at any stage of an initiative, depending on the intended use. Next, the DAT collects, analyzes, and interprets relevant data. Retrieved from http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14196&DocID=4548. Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2008). As another example, researchers might assume that lasting changes can be made through a single, momentous change event, rather than through careful, ongoing attention to sustainable improvements. Chasteen, S., Chattergoon, R., Prather, E., & Hilborn, R. (2016, July 20-21). However, research indicates that even very successful change efforts may ultimately result in backsliding, unless explicit attention is paid to sustainability (Reinholz et al., 2019). Logic model development guide: Using logic models to bring together planning, evaluation, & action. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. WHAT IS A THEORY OF CHANGE? We have also benefitted from the support of the Accelerating System Change Network (ASCN) and the STEM-DBER Alliance. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. One of the most common representations is a Logic Model, which explicates, in detail, the resources that go into a project, the activities undertaken to produce the outcomes, and the tangible results of the activities (W.K. To guide its work, a DAT completes a series of shared visioning activities to develop consensus on a focal issue and set of outcomes. In the early days of Theory of Change, Anne Kubisch and others established three quality control criteria. Similarly, a project may draw from multiple change theories to inform each part of a theory of change. Realistic evaluation. 2019). A theory of change for a change effort in undergraduate STEM education can better serve a project and the larger community when it is developed in consultation with theory and research from the scholarly literature. . What constitutes a good or robust theory of change has not been discussed much. Viewing change as occurring within a complex system is important because context will influence the impact of a change intervention. Indicators must be fully operationalized to usefully inform a project. Science Education. Retrieved from Wisconsin Center for Education Research website: https://wcer.wisc.edu/docs/working-papers/Working_Paper_No_2015_02.pdf. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.13-08-0162. Nonetheless, because our collective knowledge of how change occurs in STEM higher education is incomplete, teams will still rely on some assumptions when they design a project. Such a process model depicts the linear theory as a conceptual driver of change, which must, to remain useful, be accompanied not only by taking action but also by evaluation and recalibration. (Eds.) Despite some successes, on a national scale in the USA, we see that traditional instructional strategies continue to dominate in STEM classrooms (e.g., Stains et al., 2018). For example, some initiatives aim to change thinking, relationships, policies, and practices in departments, colleges, and institutions (Elrod & Kezar, 2015; Reinholz, Corbo, Dancy, & Finkelstein, 2017). Ajzen, I. 2023 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. Therefore, the outcomes in a Theory of Change must be coupled with indicators that guide and facilitate measurement. In general, this is done by articulating a guiding long-term outcome for the initiative. Fostering sustainable improvements in science education: An analysis through four frames. Early work has developed standardized screening for health-related social needs in clinical settings (https://bit.ly/2AHjZje). Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A call to action. The Roundtable's early work focused on working through the challenges of evaluating complex community initiatives. The 4I framework of organizational learning describes processes involved in creating, retaining, and transferring knowledge within an organization (Crossan, Lane, & White, 1999). Organizing research and development at the intersection of learning, implementation, and design. Enderle, P. J., Southerland, S. A., & Grooms, J. We also propose common terminology that DBER communities could use to refer to the articulated logic of an individual project (Tables 1 and 2). Logic Model Development Guide. Four frames for systemic change in STEM departments. TOC Origins It is difficult to trace precisely when the term "theory of change" was first used, but a hint at its origins can be found in the considerable body of theoretical and applied development in the evaluation field, especially among the work of people such as Huey Chen, Peter Rossi, Michael Quinn Patton, and Carol Weiss. The lines in a pathway of change represent the hypothesized rationale of the project, and may be written out in detail alongside the projects context, in a document accompanying the diagram. 4. Inclusive excellence new competition announcement. Presented at Atlanta, GA. Cobb, P., Confrey, J., Disessa, A., Lehrer, R., & Schauble, L. (2003). Theory of Evolution - National Geographic Society https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9831-0. It can be helpful to complement Theory of Change with a process model that shows how the Theory of Change fits into a larger, more cyclical scheme in which theory leads to action, which leads to monitoring and evaluation, which leads to adjustment of the theory, which leads to the next action, more monitoring and evaluation, and so on. TOC Origins - Theory of Change Community This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 07:24. American Journal of Evaluation, 32(2), 199226. Theory of Change - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Reinholz, D. L., & Apkarian, N. (2018). . Community cultural wealth is a framework that characterizes knowledge, skills, abilities, and contacts possessed and utilized by communities of color to survive and resist macro- and micro-forms of oppression (Yosso, 2005). Kotter, J. P. (1996). Ebert-May, D., Derting, T. L., Henkel, T. P., Middlemis Maher, J., Momsen, J. L., Arnold, B., & Passmore, H. A. In summary, change theory and research can inform a theory of change by helping a team determine which indicators can assess progress toward a long-term outcome and the preconditions on the way to the outcome. A theory of change can help to address this challenge. Having worked out a change model, practitioners can make more informed decisions about strategy and tactics. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 522537. Understanding classrooms through social network analysis: a primer for social network analysis in education research. The innovation of Theory of Change lies (1) in making the distinction between desired and actual outcomes and (2) in requiring stakeholders to model their desired outcomes before they decide on forms of intervention to achieve those outcomes. http://www.wkkf.org/knowledge-center/resources/2010/Logic-Model-Development-Guide.aspx. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Theory of Change defines long-term goals and then maps backward to identify necessary preconditions. Examples of social network indicators may be increasing the number of opinion leaders, increasing the density of a network, or increasing the strength of relationships related to undergraduate teaching in a department. Interpreting is a bridge between individuals and groups, and involves explaining an insight to oneself and others. When it comes to the evolution of life, various philosophers and scientists, including an eighteenth-century English doctor named Erasmus Darwin, proposed different . Henderson, C., Beach, A., & Finkelstein, N. (2011). [3] Its earlier origins can be traced to Peter Drucker's articulation of Management by Objectives, popularized in his 1954 book The Practice of Management. Community Toolbox: Developing a logic model or theory of change. As Patrizi writes: Once assumptions [in a theory of change] are laid out, 1) foundations don't actually test those assumptions, and 2) they don't see using the model as a continuous process. Its personal: Biology instructors prioritize personal evidence over empirical evidence in teaching decisions. [24] Theory of Change can accompany or be embedded within a research proposal. A theory is an idea about how something in nature works that has gone through rigorous testing through observations and experiments designed to prove the idea right or wrong. Only when the pathway has been developed is it time to consider which interventions will best produce the outcomes in the pathway. The preconditions included in a theory of change should be necessary and sufficient to achieve the long-term outcome. To depict a theory of change visually, a pathway of change is created as a visual representation for the connections between preconditions, long-term outcome, indicators, and interventions, and of the underlying context (Fig. This article sets out and discusses . These outcomes act as preconditions to the long-term outcome. Logic models often communicate the overall vision or aspiration of the project, as well as short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes anticipated as a result of the project. These assumptions should be based in the prior experience of the project team and the research literature. Your privacy choices/Manage cookies we use in the preference centre. Notable methodologists, such as Huey-Tsyh Chen, Peter Rossi, Michael Quinn Patton, Helne Clark, and Carol Weiss, had been thinking about how to apply program theories to evaluation since 1980. Grounding projects in change theory allows change agents to draw on existing knowledge and to better contribute to our collective knowledge about how to achieve meaningful change in STEM higher education. The TCSR (Woodbury & Gess-Newsome, 2002) maps out the context of efforts that aim to change K-12 teachers practices, including personal, structural, and cultural factors. How to Develop a Theory of Change - The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2018). Evaluation methodology and results for the new faculty workshops. Clark, H. (2004) Deciding the Scope of a Theory of Change. I, 1998, pp. She challenged designers of complex community-based initiatives to be specific about the theories of change guiding their work and suggested that doing so would improve their overall evaluation plans and would strengthen their ability to claim credit for outcomes that were predicted in their theory. These evaluation theorists and practitioners, along with a host of others, have been focused on how to apply program theories to evaluation for many decades. Assessing the interactivity and prescriptiveness of faculty professional development workshops: The real-time professional development observation tool. Identifying your basic assumptions about the context. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X15570388. Developing theories of change for social programmes: co-producing This essay is not a how-to guide or a list of theories of change from other projects. Other important conceptual work included recent work by Sue Funnell and Patricia Rogers (2011) and guides by organisations such as GrantCraft. One area of confusion for researchers is the myriad terms and representations for the underlying logic of a project. What Is Motivational Interviewing? A Theory of Change Grunspan, D. Z., Wiggins, B. L., & Goodreau, S. M. (2014). doi:10.1177/0306312720950830. W.K. A systematic review of theory-driven evaluation practice from 1990 to 2009. The most encompassing theory of social evolution was developed by Herbert Spencer, who, unlike Comte, linked social evolution to biological evolution. It involves developing shared understanding among individuals and taking coordinated actions. https://doi.org/10.1177/089590402237312. D R DIARY (@drdiary) on Instagram: "What makes up an identity? This is often done during evaluations reflecting what has worked or not in order to understand the past and plan for the future. Change theory and theory of change: whats the difference anyway? Cookies policy. PubMedGoogle Scholar. A basic TOC explains how a group of early and intermediate accomplishments sets the stage for producing long-range results. By using this website, you agree to our . Within the evaluation community, this term is often capitalized (i.e., Theory of Change), but this can cause confusion among scientists who do not think of an individual projects theory of change as akin to how they use the term theory. She called for the use of an approach that, at first glance, seems like common sense: lay out the sequence of outcomes that are expected to occur as the result of an intervention, and plan an evaluation strategy around tracking whether these expected outcomes are actually produced. Chen, H.T., S. Mathison, Chen, H.T. Drawing on diverse work is crucial for developing a theory of change with preconditions and rationales that are based on more than our own intuitions about how to achieve change. Particularly, when using Theory of Change to guide monitoring and evaluation, the Casey rubric helps focus the group's attention on outcomes, which could, if achieved, be convincingly attributed to the group's work. Organisational Research Services, Seattle. Brancaccio-Taras, L., Pape-Lindstrom, P., Peteroy-Kelly, M., Aguirre, K., Awong-Taylor, J., Balser, T., et al. Weiss, C. (1995). 51 (1): 100120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-0202-3, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-0202-3. DFID, London. BioScience, 61(7), 550558. The Outcomes Mapping focus on changes in behavior would tend to direct a Theory of Change toward outcomes like this, which are outcomes the change agent cares most about and which it can relatively easily monitor and evaluate. This can lead to enhanced mental models among individuals and improved organizational knowledge. For example, it is tempting to conclude that scientists will be convinced to adopt evidence-based teaching practices when presented with strong evidence of the effectiveness of the strategies. We define change research broadly, as any scholarship that focuses on how to make change happen. Since the publication of Weisss book, the use of planning and evaluation using theories of change has increased exponentially among philanthropies, government agencies, international NGOs, the UN and many other major organizations in both developed and developing countries. They are also helping to understand and assess impact in hard to measure areas, such as governance, capacity strengthening and institutional development. TOC maps out your initiative through 6 stages: Identifying long-term goals Backwards mapping and connecting the preconditions or requirements necessary to achieve that goal and explaining why these preconditions are necessary and sufficient. The change theories and research we have used to illustrate each category do not represent endorsements of the utility or value of these particular theories, nor a negative evaluation of theories not mentioned. Patrizi, P. and Quinn Patton, M. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 3:2, 95110. (2005). This requires different indicators. Just as development of a Theory of Change is a participatory process, a ToC-based monitoring and evaluation system can be designed in a participatory way. Rather, what we describe is based on a well-established approach from the evaluation literature and serves as a useful framework for clarifying the differences between a theory of change and change theory. When efforts have been successful, such as the FIRST project in biology and the New Faculty Workshops in physics, they have improved their impact over time through iterative evaluation research and revision (e.g., Henderson, 2008; Ebert-May et al. PDF THEORY OF CHANGE - United Nations Sustainable Development Group Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Weiss popularized the term Theory of Change as a way to describe the set of assumptions that explain both the 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. Your leverage is how much investment others put into your model. One organisation which began to focus on these issues was the US based Aspen Institute and its Roundtable on Community Change. A Systematic Review of Theory-Driven Evaluation Practice from 1990 to 2009. WCER Working Paper No. For example, applied to an effort to change how teaching is evaluated for promotion and tenure, the 4I framework of organizational learning suggests that a precondition to institutionalizing new structures includes individuals in a group (e.g., a department) developing shared understandings. (1980) The multi-goal, theory-driven approach to evaluation: A model linking basic and applied social science in Social Forces, 59, 106122. Breaking the cycle: future faculty begin teaching with learner-centered strategies after professional development. Assumptions may also be listed on the pathway of change diagram. A more complete TOC articulates the assumptions about the process through which change will occur and specifies the ways in which all . Part of For example, a Logic Model may explicitly articulate assumptions and relevant contextual factors of the project, explaining both the how and why of a project, similar to a theory of change (University of Kansas Center for Community Health and Development, 2018). Stein, D. and Valters, C. (2012) Understanding Theory of Change in International Development. Changes in state are also, as stated above, difficult to attribute to any one source. It does this by stimulating learning about what strategies work in the specific research context, and where additional attention and resources need to be directed in order to achieve intended outcomes. Each project is unique, which means that existing research and theory must be adapted to the specific initiative. Does Theory of Change frustrate or complement strategic thinking? Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Applied to a change effort to increase the adoption of evidence-based teaching practices, the theory of planned behavior proposes that preconditions to adopting a new teaching strategy include a positive attitude about the strategy, perceptions of social pressure to adopt the strategy, and confidence that one can successfully adopt the strategy. Theory of Change: A Practical Tool For Action, Results and Learning Prepared for the Annie Casey Foundation. Keywords Administration Development effectiveness Cause-and-effect Change Theories of change are strengthening monitoring, evaluation and learning. American Journal of Evaluation 32 (2) 199226. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. [24] Theory of Change begins by first working out program goals or desired impact and working backwards on outcome pathways, rather than engaging in conventional forward oriented so-that reasoning. Developing a Theory of Change - IDEAS Impact Framework Here, we highlight two change interventions designed specifically for STEM higher education and grounded in existing change theory: the Keck/PKAL model (i.e., River Model) and Departmental Action Teams. A theory of change is project-specific and related to evaluation. The Annie E. Casey Foundation first commissioned ORS Impact to develop a practical theory of change guide in 2004. [18] These are: In addition to these three basic quality control criteria, ActKnowledge[12] has added another key criterion: Appropriate Scope. Abstract. Activities and timelines. Definition Theory of change (Weiss, 1995) is an explicit process of thinking through and documenting how a program or intervention is supposed to work, why it will work, who it will benefit (and in what way) and the conditions required for success. The theory of change uses backwards mapping to create a set of connected outcomes known as the "pathway of change". Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Rationales explain how the expected interventions in a change effort are likely to result in meeting preconditions and achieving the long-term outcome. (2004). In fact, there is evidence of some confusion about what the term theory of change actually means and in some cases what some program developers describe as theories of change are in essence simply log frames or other approaches that do not encompass the complexity of the theory of change approach. His theory includes three phases. Encyclopedia of Evaluation (pp. [17], Though indicators are valuable, it may be necessary to do more in-depth data collection and analyses to assess whether and how outcomes and assumptions have been realized.[20]. Change projects in undergraduate STEM education will also include important preconditions and long-term outcomes besides changes in teaching practice. Assessing faculty professional development in STEM higher education: Sustainability of outcomes. Kellogg Foundation. Bandura, A. Washington, DC: Aspen Institute. As the origins of Theory of Change lie in the field of monitoring and evaluation, developments over the years have ensured that Theory of Change continues to be an invaluable method to conduct evaluations of many different types of projects and organizations. The theory stipulates the preconditions and provides rationales for why we can expect these preconditions to lead to the long-term outcome of the adoption of evidence-based teaching strategies. The 6 Stages of Behavior Change - Verywell Mind (2019). Departmental Action Teams: Supporting faculty learning through departmental change. What is theory of change? | Australian Institute of Family Studies - AIFS Some perspectives understand ToC as a fixed model that gets in the way of effective work and useful evaluation. The long-term goal should be something the initiative can realistically achieve and that everyone involved understands. Additionally, projects may sometimes flow upstream rather than downstream in the pursuit of change. For example, if a project team were to apply DATs to achieve an outcome of improving instruction in a department, potential outcomes of the DATs would be (1) onboarding and mentoring opportunities for new faculty; (2) developing mechanisms for sustained, discipline-based professional development in the department; or (3) seminars, colloquium, and brown bag meetings for faculty to talk about teaching. The River Model includes eight stages: (1) establishing vision, (2) examining the landscape and conducting capacity analysis, (3) identifying and analyzing challenges and opportunities, (4) choosing strategies, (5) determining readiness for action, (6) beginning implementation, (7) measuring results, and (8) disseminating results and planning next steps. A list is not a model; a list does not push practitioners to consider the goals as part of a systematic model of change, or to think criticallystrategicallyabout how best to attain the outcomes along the pathway. Purposeful Program Theory: Effective Use of Theories of Change and Logic Models. We thank Alice Olmstead, Erika Offerdahl, Isabel White, and Susan Shadle for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Sample theory of change diagram (pathway of change). These rubrics can be used by departments and administrators to assess the degree to which curriculum alignment, assessment, faculty practice and support, infrastructure, and climate for change are supportive of the recommendations in Vision & Change (AAAS, 2011; Brancaccio-Taras et al., 2016). To illustrate how theory can inform the recognition of context in a theory of change, we provide examples from two theoretical frameworks: the teacher-centered systemic reform model (TCSR) and the four frames model. A Theory of Change developed at the outset is best at informing the planning of an initiative. It can depend on a single definitive experiment or observation to change people's views, but it is more likely to involve many separate studies . Tessa C. Andrews. Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change To Guide Planning and Evaluation. The authors are grateful for ongoing efforts to build community around the scholarship of change in STEM education. Change theory and research can help a team recognize important preconditions and why it will be necessary to achieve them on the path to the long-term outcome. How does intervention A cause precondition B to be met? A clear and agreed end goal is key to everything that follows. For example, grant managers can be involved in choosing the outcomes of greatest interest to them in their decision-making. The force-field theory of change proposes three-stage of organizational change: unfreeze, change and re-freeze. The Center for Theory of Change[7] houses a library, definitions, glossary and is licensed to offer Theory of Change Online by ActKnowledge[12] free of charge. A. Specifically, the four frames model operationalizes culture as an ever-changing set of structures and underlying ways of thinking, and the resulting power relationships between individuals (Reinholz & Apkarian, 2018).

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