Contribution analysis
- What kind of understanding does contribution analysis reveal?
This approach reveals plausible causal contributions rather than definitive proof, acknowledging the messy reality of transformation processes.
When your intervention is emerging amidst interacting systems, responding to constantly evolving contexts, traditional evaluation won’t tell you what works. We use contribution analysis to build a credible story of what’s shifting, working with the uncertainties. Through iterative inquiry with stakeholders and those affected, we trace how your activities contribute to change across complex, shifting environments where simple cause and effect doesn’t apply.
We’ve used this to evaluate large-scale transformation change processes across multiple sectors.
Key references
Junge, K., Cullen, J., & Iacopini, G. (2020). Using contribution analysis to evaluate large-scale, transformation change processes. Evaluation, 26(2), 227-245