| Session Title: A Tool for Designing Evaluations of Paradigm Shifts in Complex System Interventions |
| Skill-Building Workshop 110 to be held in BOWIE A on Wednesday, Nov 10, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Systems in Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Beverly A Parsons, InSites, bparsons@insites.org |
| Pat Jessup, InSites, pjessup@insites.org |
| Marah Moore, i2i Institute Inc, marah@i2i-institute.com |
| Abstract: The session begins with an overview of a one-page framework for displaying a theory of change in complex systems. It focuses on patterns of change over time across multiple levels of a social system. It incorporates attention to system boundaries, relationships, and perspectives as well as system dynamics. Working in pairs or triads, the participants will practice constructing a similar visual framework based on a situation that one of them is evaluating that involves a fundamental paradigm shift (e.g., a shift from a focus on deficits to a focus on assets; from delivery of information to engaged learning; from waste to recycling). Then they will practice using their framework as the basis for designing an evaluation that helps evaluation users leverage complex dynamics in the social systems involved to achieve the desired shift with attention to sustainability and scalability. |