What: Outcomes, impacts and causal attribution – affordable, practical, feasible options for the real world

Hosted by: anzea Regional Symposium

Location: Nga Wai o Horotiu (Auckland University of Technology Marae), Auckland

When: May 21, half day, time TBA

How to sign up: Registrations are due May 12, 2010 (click link to open PDF brochure & registration form)

Abstract:

If a reported “outcome” is not caused by a programme, it is not an outcome at all; it’s a coincidence. Simply measuring variables that may or may not be causally related to a programme (i.e. could just be coincidences – who knows?) doesn’t tell you anything about the quality or value of the programme, therefore it can’t be referred to as outcome evaluation – it’s just measurement.

Isn’t causal attribution heinously expensive, almost never feasible, and doesn’t it require some form of experimental design? Not necessarily. In this interactive seminar, Jane will use case examples to illustrate eight strategies for inferring (or ruling out) causal links between programmes and suspected outcomes: (1) Ask those who have observed or experienced the causal effect, (2) Check if the content of the intervention matches the nature of the outcome; (3) Look for distinctive effect patterns (modus operandi method), (4) Check whether the timing of outcomes makes sense, (5) Examine the relationship between program “dose” and “response”, (6) Use a comparison or control, (7) Control statistically for extraneous variables, and (8) Identify and check the causal mechanisms. These strategies are outlined in Jane’s (2004) book, “Evaluation Methodology Basics: The nuts and bolts of sound evaluation” (Sage).

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