Putting Program Theory into Operation

Abstract

The emphasis on understanding how a program works and what makes a program work led to the development of the theory-driven approach to program evaluation. Theory plays a major role in guiding a program design and evaluation. The theory defines the presenting problem and the target population for whom the program is designed, specifies the causal processes underlying the program effects, and identifies its expected outcomes as well as factors that affect treatment processes. In this article, a conceptual framework is presented as a tool for putting the program theory into operation. The framework incorporates variables that reflect theoretical concepts and implementation issues addressed in program evaluation. The framework organizes the variables into three categories: input, process, and output, and proposes direct and indirect relationships among them. Implications of the framework for program evaluation are discussed.