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Process-Tracing Methods in Program Evaluation

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dc.contributor.authorBeach, Derek
dc.contributor.authorRaimondo, Estelle
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-15T16:21:46Z
dc.date.available2025-05-15T16:21:46Z
dc.date.issued2025-05-15
dc.description.abstractProcess tracing (PT) involves a detailed analysis of the processes that link interventions to outcomes. PT is particularly useful for evaluating interventions that are difficult to quantify, such as knowledge work or institution building. It involves creating a detailed causal theory, tracking the process theory of change (pToC) by examining the observable evidence, and learning general lessons from the cases studied. PT offers two main benefits to evaluators: first, it provides a clear way to present and evaluate the strength of the evidence collected. This helps in making the evaluation process more understandable and credible. Second, it helps evaluators learn practical lessons more easily by emphasizing the explicit connections between actors, their actions, and resulting behavioral changes. However, the reliability of findings from PT depends on how well the theory matches the observable evidence. This paper explains how process tracing (PT) is a valuable tool for evaluating policy changes and program effectiveness. It details the methodology, highlights the importance of tracking processes and events linking interventions to results, and discusses PT's advantages and limitations. The paper provides a step-by-step implementation guide and examines the use of PT in an anonymized IEG evaluation as an example.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099215104282551998
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1596/IEG200978
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/43193
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWashington, DC: World Bank
dc.relation.ispartofseriesIEG Methods and Evaluation Capacity Development Working Paper Series
dc.rightsCC BY-NC 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/igo
dc.subjectPARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS
dc.subjectPROCESS TRAINING (PT)
dc.subjectKNOWLEDGE WORK
dc.subjectEVALUATION PROCESS
dc.subjectPROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
dc.titleProcess-Tracing Methods in Program Evaluationen
dc.typeWorking Paper
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.date.disclosure2025-05-15
okr.date.doiregistration2025-05-17T02:14:04.865402Z
okr.date.lastmodified2025-05-02T11:06:02Zen
okr.doctypeWorking Paper
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099215104282551998
okr.guid099215104282551998
okr.identifier.docmidIDU-b5bc3d3d-c189-498c-89e2-b95d812b3b8d
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/IEG200978
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum40009570
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum40009570
okr.identifier.report200978
okr.import.id7362
okr.importedtrueen
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttps://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099215104282551998/pdf/IDU-b5bc3d3d-c189-498c-89e2-b95d812b3b8d.pdfen
okr.region.geographicalWorld
okr.topicGovernance::International Governmental Organizations
okr.topicInformation and Communication Technologies::Knowledge Management
okr.topicMacroeconomics and Economic Growth::Knowledge Economy
okr.unitIEGMA - Methods Advisory Function
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