Publication: The Rigor of Case-Based Causal Analysis: Busting Myths through a Demonstration
Date
2023-05-02
ISSN
Published
2023-05-02
Author(s)
Raimondo, Estelle
Abstract
Several myths persist within research
and evaluation circles about the power and limitations of
evaluation designs that use cases (or case studies) as their
primary empirical material (case-based evaluation designs).
Using a real-world application, this paper busts two myths
regarding the use of case-based designs in evaluations that
aim to answer effectiveness questions and unpack the
relationships between interventions and observed changes in
outcomes (broadly known as causal analysis): that case
studies cannot be used for causal analysis and that it is
impossible to generalize from case studies. Through a
detailed demonstration of how the evaluation of the World
Bank’s support to carbon finance has been designed and
implemented, the paper undoes these preconceived ideas about
the inferential, explanatory, and generalizability power of
case-based evaluation designs.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Raimondo, Estelle. 2023. The Rigor of Case-Based Causal Analysis: Busting Myths through a Demonstration. IEG Methods and Evaluation Capacity Development Working Paper Series. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39773 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”