Experimentalism and development evaluation: Will the bubble burst?

Abstract

Bridging the current divide of opinion about experimentalism would help protect an evaluation brand currently under threat in international evaluation circles. In order to help settle a lingering and unnecessary controversy, this opinion article describes the policy force field that triggered the recent surge of interest in experimental methods in development evaluation; digs up the historical and philosophical roots of the long-standing epistemological debate; outlines the value and boundaries of experimentalism; and speculates about its prospects in development evaluation.

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