Testing Conceptual Frameworks of Nonexperimental Program Evaluation Designs Using Structural Equation Modeling

A theory-driven approach to evaluation (TDE) emphasizes the development and empirical testing of conceptual models to understand the processes and mechanisms through which programs achieve their intended goals. However, most reported applications of TDE are limited to large-scale experimental/quasi-experimental program evaluation designs. Very few (limited) examples of the relevance of TDE to nonexperimental program evaluation designs exist in literature. Using the method of structural equation modeling to analyze data from the Interns for Indiana (IfI) program, this study demonstrates how evaluation practitioners can test logical and sequential relationships among tiers of outcomes of nonexperimental programs, especially programs with limited datasets. The study also describes how the empirical feedback can be used to understand program dynamics and improve program implementation and evaluation.