Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping
Theory of Change diagrams are commonly used within evaluation. Due to their popularity and flexibility, Theories of Change can vary greatly, from the nuanced and nested, through to simplified and linear. We present a methodology for building genuinely holistic, complexity-appropriate, system-based T...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publications
2021
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| _version_ | 1797111454354112512 |
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| author | Wilkinson, H Hills, D Penn, A Barbrook-Johnson, P |
| author_facet | Wilkinson, H Hills, D Penn, A Barbrook-Johnson, P |
| author_sort | Wilkinson, H |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Theory of Change diagrams are commonly used within evaluation. Due to their popularity and flexibility, Theories of Change can vary greatly, from the nuanced and nested, through to simplified and linear. We present a methodology for building genuinely holistic, complexity-appropriate, system-based Theory of Change diagrams, using Participatory Systems Mapping as a starting point. Participatory System Maps provide a general-purpose resource that can be used in many ways; however, knowing how to turn their complex view of a system into something actionable for evaluation purposes is difficult. The methodology outlined in this article gives this starting point and plots a path through from systems mapping to a Theory of Change evaluators can use. It allows evaluators to develop practical Theories of Change that take into account feedbacks, wider context and potential negative or unexpected outcomes. We use the example of the energy trilemma map presented elsewhere in this special issue to demonstrate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:10:36Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:1c347294-e67a-45eb-8250-3c174b28d6ca |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:10:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | SAGE Publications |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:1c347294-e67a-45eb-8250-3c174b28d6ca2023-11-23T16:32:50ZBuilding a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mappingJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:1c347294-e67a-45eb-8250-3c174b28d6caEnglishSymplectic ElementsSAGE Publications2021Wilkinson, HHills, DPenn, ABarbrook-Johnson, PTheory of Change diagrams are commonly used within evaluation. Due to their popularity and flexibility, Theories of Change can vary greatly, from the nuanced and nested, through to simplified and linear. We present a methodology for building genuinely holistic, complexity-appropriate, system-based Theory of Change diagrams, using Participatory Systems Mapping as a starting point. Participatory System Maps provide a general-purpose resource that can be used in many ways; however, knowing how to turn their complex view of a system into something actionable for evaluation purposes is difficult. The methodology outlined in this article gives this starting point and plots a path through from systems mapping to a Theory of Change evaluators can use. It allows evaluators to develop practical Theories of Change that take into account feedbacks, wider context and potential negative or unexpected outcomes. We use the example of the energy trilemma map presented elsewhere in this special issue to demonstrate. |
| spellingShingle | Wilkinson, H Hills, D Penn, A Barbrook-Johnson, P Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title | Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title_full | Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title_fullStr | Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title_short | Building a system-based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| title_sort | building a system based theory of change using participatory systems mapping |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wilkinsonh buildingasystembasedtheoryofchangeusingparticipatorysystemsmapping AT hillsd buildingasystembasedtheoryofchangeusingparticipatorysystemsmapping AT penna buildingasystembasedtheoryofchangeusingparticipatorysystemsmapping AT barbrookjohnsonp buildingasystembasedtheoryofchangeusingparticipatorysystemsmapping |