The Science and Art of Theory Development and Evaluation

The Science and Art of Theory Development and Evaluation

Theory development and evaluation aid healthcare professionals in developing an understanding of healthcare principles and the efficacy of theory-based processes. A theory’s effectiveness must be demonstrated in clinical practice. Evaluation enables the analysis of a theory’s contribution to patient outcomes. A theory is only relevant if it produces the desired outcome. This paper will look at the science and art of developing and evaluating theories. The development and evaluation of theories is an important process in the health care setting.

Theory-driven evaluations are still in their early stages. The process of policy-making and development includes the application of theories in development and evaluation. It is the stage at which a theory is tested as a policy, and evaluation occurs following the implementation of a program related to the theory. The policy stakeholders are the common evaluators. Theories influence policy design, including methodological choices and evaluator engagement (Leeuw & Donaldson, 2015). Theory development can have an impact on the design realm of any intervention in a variety of settings. Theory aids in the development of a program design as well as the generation of new knowledge and insights following a series of evaluations (Kuechler & Vaishnavi, 2012). It can be studied in a military setting, where a theory about the use of a weapon is developed. The theory is used to guide the weapon’s operation. The theory is also used to evaluate the weapon’s use process.

Theories that have been tested and provide a thorough explanation of social and behavioral situations are frequently employed in the process. Theories are used to explain how policies affect society and behavior. It will also investigate the role of social and institutional factors in behavioral change or impact. Policymakers and stakeholders serve as evaluators, providing critical insights into the mechanisms and contexts of theories-based interventions. This would allow for the reconstruction of the formulated theory based on policymakers’ and stakeholders’ assessments (Leeuw & Donaldson, 2015).

Policy interventions in public health are a common application of theory-based policy formulation and evaluation. Public health policies are frequently complex and cannot be subjected to randomized controlled trials. Instead, it goes through a theory of change process in which an evaluation is performed following the implementation of a theory-based public health intervention. This would entail analyzing intermediate outcomes and predicting long-term outcomes based on short-term outcomes. It can also be developed through background mapping, which analyzes long-term outcomes and generates intermediate outcomes. Between 1990 and 2009, nearly half of all public policies were evaluations of health interventions, according to studies (Breuer et al., 2016).

Theory development and evaluation may also include causal pathways in which one intervention results in a specific outcome. It portrays theoretical models as a science, with outcomes predicted using scientific models (Breuer et al., 2016). It approaches scientific realism through the interaction of theory, interventions, and program outcomes. Interventions are developed and implemented using theories. The theory is also used in the development of evaluation indicators. This influences the design and refinement of public health interventions.

The development and evaluation of theories is an important process in the health care setting. It entails a continuous process of refining interventions based on a theory via a series of evaluations. Theories depicting social and behavioral changes are frequently used in the process. The development of public health interventions is a common application. It may involve causal pathways in which an intervention is developed based on a theory, and the outcomes are assessed using short-term and long-term impact.

References

Breuer, E., Lee, L., De Silva, M., & Lund, C. (2016). Using the theory of change to design and evaluate public health interventions: a systematic review. Implementation Science, 11, 63. doi: 10.1186/s13012-016-0422-6

Kuechler, W., & Vaishnavi, V. (2012). A Framework for Theory Development in Design Science Research: Multiple Perspectives. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 13(6), 395-423.

Leeuw, F. L., & Donaldson, S. I. (2015). Theory in evaluation: Reducing confusion and encouraging debate. Evaluation, 21(4), 467–480. doi:10.1177/1356389015607712

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The Science and Art of Theory Development and Evaluation

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