| Session Title: Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Business Meeting and Presentation - Theory Soup for the Quantitative Soul |
| Business Meeting Session 367 to be held in Baltimore Theater on Thursday, November 8, 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM |
| Sponsored by the Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG |
| TIG Leader(s): |
| Patrick McKnight, George Mason University, pem@alumni.nd.edu |
| George Julnes, Utah State University, gjulnes@cc.usu.edu |
| Fred Newman, Florida International University, newmanf@fiu.edu |
| Karen Given Larwin, Gannon University, kgiven@kent.edu |
| Dale Berger, Claremont Graduate University, dale.berger@cgu.edu |
| Presenter(s): |
| Melvin Mark, Pennsylvania State University, m5m@psu.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| William Trochim, Cornell University, wmt1@cornell.edu |
| Abstract: Evaluation theory, in general, has a different -- but complementary – focus than do most evaluators who write about quantitative methods. Methodologists, for example, discuss new and optimal ways of estimating the counterfactual, while evaluation theorists discuss whether, when and why evaluators should try to estimate the counterfactual. Methodologists debate alternative models for data analysis, while evaluation theorists instead debate the alternative ends toward which an evaluation's data and findings might be put. The two lines of thinking might profit from more intersection. Several examples are sketched in support of this assertion. |