46. Change Theory VS Theory of Change: Foundations for Effective Social Impact
Description
This episode explores the essential but often misunderstood distinction between Change Theory and Theory of Change. Change Theory offers general, research-informed explanations of how change occurs, drawing on decades of scholarship from psychology, sociology, organisational studies, economics, and environmental science. Theory of Change, on the other hand, is a context-specific framework that sets out the causal pathways, assumptions, and milestones through which a particular initiative aims to achieve its intended outcomes. We examine how these two concepts intersect, outline the different types of change theories—descriptive, predictive, and explanatory—and explain why grounding a Theory of Change in robust theoretical foundations is critical for designing, evaluating, and refining effective interventions.
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