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The Causal Mechanism Claim in Evaluation: Does the Prophecy Fulfill?
Author(s) -
Schmitt Johannes
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
new directions for evaluation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.374
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1534-875X
pISSN - 1097-6736
DOI - 10.1002/ev.20421
Subject(s) - mechanism (biology) , relevance (law) , causal analysis , causal model , computer science , causal structure , key (lock) , epistemology , causal chain , causality (physics) , management science , risk analysis (engineering) , political science , economics , business , law , medicine , philosophy , physics , computer security , pathology , quantum mechanics
Despite increased discussions in the community and a common understanding about the virtue of mechanism‐based explanation, little is known about the true benefits and challenges of applying causal mechanism analysis in practice. This chapter aims to introduce the reader to the topic of causal mechanisms and synthesize significant findings on this special issue. It begins by laying out definitions and concepts of causal mechanisms in evaluation literature and proposes a two‐way classification of causal mechanisms along which the chapters to this issue are structured. The chapter continues by introducing the Causal Mechanism Claim and elaborates on how analyzing causal mechanisms is expected to increase policy relevance and causal capacity in evaluations. Drawing on this issue's rich corpus of firsthand practical experience, this introduction synthesizes key lessons that support or contradict the Causal Mechanism Claim . We find that both parts of the claim — increased policy relevance and strengthened causal capacity — are supported by the authors' experiences as bundled in this issue. However, we also identify challenges related to cross‐cutting issues such as communication and practical applicability and point to the importance of method integration.