Causality and Complexity in Evaluating Equity Interventions: Conceptual Issues That Need to Be Addressed in Theory-Driven Evaluation Approaches

Abstract

We discuss how explicit thinking about a variety of causal pathways, informed by a dynamic systems lens that is responsible for exacerbating and diminishing inequities as well as different types of complexities (related to program pathways), will further help develop theory-driven evaluation approaches such as Contribution Analysis. We argue that contribution claims associated with interventions focused on addressing inequities need to consider the multiple types of causal pathways by which a program can help reduce inequities.