From Evaluation to Interpretation: Assessing Theoretical Elements in Residential Programmes

Impact studies of prevention programmes, in particular meta-analyses, usually interpret outcome and impact statistics as tests of an underlying theory of prevention. However, these programmes usually combine various interventions linked to different theoretical perspectives. Consequently, the effects of the programme can easily be misinterpreted.This article introduces an interpretation method that acknowledges the eclecticism of prevention practice and is also a feasible instrument to enhance the quality of meta-studies. First, the interventions of the programme are identified and analysed separately. Second, an assessment is made of the arguments that link interventions and the espoused theories.Third, each intervention is represented by a set of scores indicating the types of links and core theoretical assumptions.These scores are aggregated to programme scores and included as independent variables in meta-analyses.The method is illustrated by an evaluation of practices in two Dutch crime prevention in...