evaluationhow

Evaluationhow is a term used to describe a framework or approach that emphasizes understanding how evaluation results arise by articulating the steps, mechanisms, and causal pathways that link activities to outcomes. It combines the practice of evaluation with a focus on the processes of change, not just the end results.

The term is a neologism in English that has appeared in scholarly and practitioner discussions during the 2010s and 2020s. It is sometimes written as evaluation-how or evaluationhow and is closely associated with theories of change, logic models, and process-oriented evaluation.

Core methods of evaluationhow include developing a logic model or theory of change to specify presumed pathways, mapping activities to intermediate outcomes, and applying process-tracing or contribution analysis to test linkages. Data collection typically combines qualitative and quantitative methods, with emphasis on transparent documentation of assumptions and steps and on iterative learning.

Applications span education, public health, social services, and nonprofit or corporate program evaluation. By focusing on how outcomes emerge, evaluationhow supports learning, accountability, and replication, helping designers identify where interventions should be strengthened or adapted.

Criticisms include potential complexity and resource demands, the risk of overemphasizing process at the expense of final impact, and the possibility of confounding if causal links are not carefully established. Proponents argue that credible application requires rigorous design, triangulation, and clear articulation of theory and assumptions.

Related concepts include evaluation, process evaluation, theory of change, logic model, causal inference, and program assessment.