Unlocking Research Potential
A Theory of Change helps shape the pathway from research to impact
Our team at Stanford Impact Labs (SIL) has frequent occasion to work closely with a broad range of faculty across Stanford University and other research institutions. We understand that many scholars are motivated by the prospect that their research will lead to some positive social impact or change in the world. One effective tool for mapping the pathway from research to real-world change is the Theory of Change (ToC). This framework, which is a core element of the programs SIL offers, helps researchers articulate how their work can lead to meaningful outcomes for society in addition to contributions to their academic field.
What is a Theory of Change?
A Theory of Change is a structured framework that outlines the steps and assumptions linking research activities to desired outcomes and impacts. It serves as a roadmap, detailing how specific actions are expected to lead to change. This approach is particularly useful in revealing what it would take to move from the ‘black box’ of research to tangible change in society. A Theory of Change also helps to make underlying assumptions explicit and facilitates stakeholder engagement.
Examples of Theory of Change
At Stanford Impact Labs, we use a very simple Theory of Change framework: one sentence that takes the form of If we [action and solution], then [actor, verb, and outcome]. As part of our fellowship programs for faculty, postdocs, and PhD students who are keen to marry vital social science research with broader public impact, participants draft their own Theory of Change. This exercise prompts them to get concrete about how change may come from their project. For a Theory of Change to be a helpful framework, it should include the following:
- A thing that will lead to the intended outcome (is that thing a service, a program, a product, a training, a policy, or advocacy efforts?). What will the research inform?
- A clear actor that is doing something differently as a consequence of the thing! Who will be making use of the thing that the research informs?
- An outcome (“Then…”) should directly flow from the solution (“If we…”).
Some examples:
If we develop a more efficient public procurement model for drugs, then governments will be able to purchase drugs at lower prices and reduce healthcare costs.
If we create training modules for religious leaders on suicide prevention and response, then religious community leaders will “intervene” earlier and refer their members to professional care.
If we develop a new approach to in-class student-centered teaching, then students’ literacy and maths rates will improve.
Benefits of Theory of Change
The Theory of Change should be a dynamic, declarative if/then statement that helps the scholar identify knowns, unknowns, and areas of evolving learning. It requires not just naming the design and purpose of their research but also actively engaging with the “so what?” of the research.
- Focus on impact: The theory of change is the fabric that connects the scholar's work to actual change. It helps the scholar explicitly consider what change they hope to see from their research and who the intended user or beneficiary is of their research.
Clarify impact pathways: A Theory of Change helps researchers identify and articulate the mechanisms through which their work can influence change, ensuring that each step from research to impact is thoughtfully considered. Through an exercise called impact mapping (illustrated below), a scholar asks and answers the question: What are all the things that would have to take place or be true for the intended outcome from the research to be realized?
Stakeholder engagement: A Theory of Change helps researchers identify people to speak with, and questions to ask, in order to gather input as they design their project. A Theory of Change helps to identify the different actors along the pathway from research to impact that would need to do something differently in order for the impact to materialize. By definition, these are key people for the scholar to speak with, as are stakeholders who can offer an informed perspective on some of the assumptions embedded within the theory of change that would need to hold true.
- Improve communication: A well-defined Theory of Change provides a clear narrative that can be shared with stakeholders, funders, and collaborators, fostering better understanding and support for the research.
- Facilitate evaluation: The framework allows for the identification of indicators to monitor progress and assess the effectiveness of the research in achieving its intended impact. If the desired outcome does not materialize, researchers can measure the assumptions embedded in the impact map and gain insight as to what may have been missed.
Practical Application in Research
Applying a Theory of Change in academic research involves integrating the framework throughout the research design and execution phases. This integration ensures that the research is aligned with its intended impact from the outset. Rather than being a theory that gives answers, incorporating a Theory of Change into academic research provides a structured approach to planning and achieving impact. It helps researchers to think strategically about how their work can effect change, plan more deliberately, and engage more effectively with stakeholders.
By making assumptions that often implicitly motivate research explicit, and by establishing clear indicators for success, a Theory of Change can very often facilitate more effective and impactful research endeavors.