Overview

Assumptions: Complexity, Practice and Values delves into the empirical and theoretical aspects of assumptions in evaluation, offering methodologies to identify and categorize them, and exploring how they influence evaluations and each other. It provides practical guidance for evaluators to help stakeholders identify priorities and plan effective programs, while also presenting conceptual insights into the nature of assumptions and their impact on both programs and evaluations. The chapters push the boundaries of our understanding of assumptions in the field and propose a research agenda to deepen our knowledge and improve evaluation practices.  Addressing assumptions is a cornerstone of evaluative thinking, crucial for uncovering the beliefs that guide stakeholders' decisions and actions. This book emphasizes how these assumptions shape the evaluation process, determining the questions asked and the answers sought. By examining these underlying beliefs, evaluators can conduct more meaningful evaluations that truly reflect the needs and realities of the programs they assess.  This book also equips methodologists with the tools to design evaluations that yield actionable insights for decision-makers. Practitioners will learn to monitor their own and their stakeholders' assumptions to avoid biases and leverage deeper understanding in their work. Program funders and designers will gain the knowledge to implement more effective programs and avoid unintended consequences. Evaluation educators will find valuable content to enhance their teaching, and researchers will discover new directions for their studies. Ultimately, Assumptions aims to enrich evaluators' ability to reveal and prioritize the most consequential assumptions in their work. 

Full Product Details

Author:   Apollo M. Nkwake (Action Against Hunger, USA) ,  Jonathan A. Morell (4.669… Evaluation and Planning, USA) ,  Katrina L. Bledsoe (Abt Global, USA)
Publisher:   Emerald Publishing Limited
Imprint:   Emerald Publishing Limited
ISBN:  

9781805922490

ISBN 10:   1805922491
Pages:   160
Publication Date:   01 December 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction: Assumptions: Complexity, Practice and Values; Apollo M. Nkwake Chapter 2. Assumptions Through a Complexity Lens; Jonathan A. Morell Chapter 3. Evolving Evaluation Premises and Principles for Working with Assumptions in the Polycrisis; Michael Patton Chapter 4. Adaptation of Assumptions Based Evaluation to deal with Complexity, Values and Different Perspectives; Osvaldo Néstor Feinstein Chapter 5. Working smartly with assumptions in programs: Results from a Survey on Assumptions; Godfrey Senkaba Chapter 6. Working with program theory assumptions in a school related gender-based violence (SRGBV) prevention intervention; Apollo M. Nkwake and Daniel Lavan Chapter 7. How do we begin? Practices and tools for examining evaluator positionality, assumptions, and bias; Min Ma Chapter 8. Concluding Impressions About Research on Evaluation / Assumptions; Jonathan A. Morell

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Author Information

Dr. Apollo M. Nkwake is a Global Lead-Senior Technical Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL).  Dr. Jonathan A. Morell is an expert in Evaluation and Complexity Science, known for his work on complexity constructs, agent-based modeling, and hidden assumptions.  Dr. Katrina L. Bledsoe is a Principal at Abt Global, an advisor at Strategic Learning Partners 4 Innovation, and a consultant at Katrina Bledsoe Consulting. 

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