Clarifying concepts and categories of assumptions for use in evaluation.
In order to advance systematic examination of how evaluators work with assumptions, there is need for; first of all, a coherent synthesis and categorization of assumptions, as well as a discussion of their varied relevance in program design and evaluation. An emergent typology of assumptions as they are used in the literature will be proposed based on categories of assumptions as used in literature. The critical role and potential contribution of the articulation of paradigmatic, normative, diagnostic, prescriptive, causal, external and other assumptions in program design and evaluation are discussed and then evaluated for utility to current evaluative practice.
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), Hosted by World Agroforestry Centre, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address: nkwake@gmail.com.
Apollo M
AM
Nkwake
Payson Program for Global Development, Tulane University, 5721 Magazine St, #188, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA. Electronic address: nmorrow@tulane.edu.
Nathan
N
Morrow
D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design
Assumptions typology; Causal assumptions; Diagnostic assumptions; Normative assumptions; Paradigmatic assumptions; Prescriptive assumptions