Program Theory: Not Whether Programs Work but How They Work

Conclusion

Program theory evaluation is not an easy type of evaluation to do successfully. Skills in conceptualization are required, as well as, skills in measurement and in helping people articulate tacit knowledge. It often raises harder and more threatening questions than can be satisfactorily answered in any one evaluation. But it can lead to better information about programs that is important for replication or for improvement, and which is unlikely to be produced through other types of program evaluation. In many cases, these advantages are worth the extra trouble.