Resources for causal inference without control groups

In this morning’s Ignite session at AEA 2012, I did a five minute explanation of ways of doing causal inference without control groups, comparison groups or a counterfactual, using a three-part strategy:

1.Do lots of little tests of the hypothesis –  is the factual consistent with the causal explanation? 2.Check out alternative explanations carefully

Read the whole post –> Resources for causal inference without control groups

The Rise and Risk of Evidence

Our guest blogger this week is Katherine Hay, a senior member of the Evaluation Unit of the International Centre for Development Research. Based in New Delhi, India, she is an expert on the role of evaluation in development in South Asia. She promotes approaches that assess how women and other marginalized groups benefit from development

Read the whole post –> The Rise and Risk of Evidence

Challenges in evaluation – Call for nominations

Pic by Magnus Akselvoll

What are the big, enduring challenges in evaluation? Where are we making progress?

The ‘BetterEvaluation’ project has announced a Request for Challenges (RfC), with a particular emphasis in this round on evaluation in the areas of Capacity Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Network initiatives.

Nominations for challenges are being

Read the whole post –> Challenges in evaluation – Call for nominations

Australian book launch of ‘Purposeful Program Theory’, Canberra 17 March

After years working on this with my co-author Sue Funnell, I’m looking forward to the launch of the book Purposeful Program Theory: Effective Use of Theories of Change and Logic Models in Canberra next Thursday (Yes, on St Patrick’s Day).

Thursday 17 March, 5.30 for 5.45 pm

Venue: Central Courtyard University House, Balmain Crescent,

Read the whole post –> Australian book launch of ‘Purposeful Program Theory’, Canberra 17 March

Strengthening Evaluation Effectiveness – seminar, Washington DC

I’m in Washington DC this week, after teaching a course on Using Program Theory and Logic Models for Evaluation at The Evaluators Institute.

Fortunately I will be able to stay on for a seminar being presented this coming Wednesday by The Evaluators’ Institute and The Washington Evaluators on

“StrengtheningEvaluation Effectiveness”

Wednesday, January 19th, 6:00pm

Read the whole post –> Strengthening Evaluation Effectiveness – seminar, Washington DC