The Multi-Goal, Theory-Driven Approach to Evaluation: A Model Linking Basic and Applied Social Science

TLDR

Evaluation research frequently reports that programs have little or no effectiveness, a problem often blamed on inadequate methodology. This paper analyzes why current evaluations fail and proposes a multi‑goal, theory‑driven approach to address the issue. The approach is defined by its principles, procedures, and theoretical justification, offering a structured alternative to conventional methods. Illustrations show that applying the multi‑goal, theory‑driven method yields advantages for program evaluation.

Abstract

A source of one of the more serious problems of evaluation research is the typical finding that evaluated programs have little or no effectiveness. Recently, claims have been made that the problem of no effect may be attributed to the inadequacy of current evaluation methodology. In this paper, the reasons for no effect in current program evaluation are analyzed theoretically. In order to cope with this problem, an alternative evaluation method, the “multi-goal, theory-driven” approach, is proposed. The principles, procedures, and justification of this new evaluation approach are discussed. Finally, the advantages of applying the multi-goal, theory-driven approach to program evaluation are illustrated.