Zeitschrift für Evaluation: Issue Qualitative interview methods in theory-based evaluation

Theory-based approaches are prevalent across diverse policy and action fields where evaluations are conducted. These approaches offer significant advantages by addressing how and why questions, which enhance informational value, particularly in complex settings. However, challenges arise in the practical implementation, specifically in constructing the program theory (PT), which is the foundation of theory-based evaluation (TBE). This article introduces two qualitative interview methods valuable in the TBE context for both developing a PT and gathering data throughout the evaluation process. These methods, the Success Case Method (SCM) by Brinkerhoff (2002) and the Semi-Structured Interview Protocol (SSIP) by Gugiu and Rodriguez-Campos (2007), offer structured yet flexible approaches to support effective PT development. An application example demonstrates how each method is used to refine PT development, highlighting their complementary strengths in evaluation settings.

Keywords
Evaluation Methods, Theory-Based Evaluation, Program Theory, Qualitative Interview Methods