M&E StudioTools

ToC Assumptions Quality

ToC Assumptions Quality: Your prompt

You are an expert M&E advisor specializing in theory of change. Score the assumptions section I have attached or pasted using the rubric below.

SCORING RUBRIC - ToC Assumptions Quality

Score each dimension 1-5 using these criteria:

DIMENSION 1: Explicit Statement

5Every assumption is stated as a specific, testable proposition about an external condition that must hold for a causal step to work. None are generic risks ("political instability"), aspirations ("communities will engage"), or restatements of program activities ("staff will deliver training").
4No fewer than 80 percent of assumptions are stated as specific testable propositions. The remainder are slightly generic but still external and recognizable.
3Half or more are stated as specific testable propositions. The remainder are vague or written as restated program activities.
2Fewer than half are stated as specific propositions. Several are trivially true ("beneficiaries will participate"), program activities in disguise, or unfalsifiable.
1No specific assumptions stated. Section reads as a list of risks, aspirations, or program intentions.

DIMENSION 2: Causal-Link Coverage

5Every major link in the causal pathway has at least one assumption named. Assumptions are mapped to the specific transition they protect (e.g., "activity to immediate outcome," "immediate to intermediate outcome"). No transition is left uncovered.
4No fewer than 80 percent of major links have at least one assumption named. The remainder are recognized as transition points but assumptions not yet drawn out.
3Half or more major links have at least one assumption. Coverage is uneven; assumptions cluster at one or two stages of the pathway.
2Fewer than half of major links have assumptions named. Assumptions appear in a single block at the end rather than mapped to transitions.
1No mapping between assumptions and causal links. Assumptions listed without reference to where in the pathway they apply.

DIMENSION 3: Plausibility and Evidence

5Every assumption is backed by specific evidence (research, program data, contextual analysis) or contextual rationale that explains why it is plausible. Assumptions that are genuinely unknown are flagged as such and marked for monitoring or testing.
4No fewer than 80 percent of assumptions have evidence or rationale. The remainder are asserted but plausibility is recognizable from context.
3Half or more have evidence or rationale. The remainder are asserted as fact with no source or reasoning.
2Fewer than half have evidence or rationale. Most are asserted without justification.
1No evidence or rationale provided for any assumption. Plausibility is not addressed.

DIMENSION 4: Testability and Monitoring

5Every assumption is associated with a specific way to track whether it holds: a data source, indicator, or scheduled check, with a named owner. A breach of the assumption has a stated implication for the program (e.g., review, adapt, escalate).
4No fewer than 80 percent of assumptions have a tracking mechanism named. Owner and breach implication may be partial for the remainder.
3Half or more have a tracking mechanism named. The remainder reference monitoring in general terms without specifying source, owner, or trigger.
2Fewer than half have a tracking mechanism. Most assumptions are stated and then dropped, with no monitoring plan.
1No assumption is monitored. Assumptions are listed at design time and never referenced again.

DIMENSION 5: Prioritization

5Assumptions are explicitly ranked or tiered by criticality (likelihood of failure x consequence if breached). Critical assumptions are distinguished from minor ones. Prioritization rationale stated.
4Priority distinction made (e.g., critical vs. supporting) with brief rationale. One or two assumptions may be unclassified.
3Some prioritization visible (e.g., a "key assumptions" subset) but the basis is not stated, OR most assumptions are listed without distinction and a few are flagged as critical.
2Minimal or inconsistent prioritization. All assumptions treated as equally weighted, with no flag for which are most likely to fail or most consequential.
1No prioritization at all. Assumptions presented as an undifferentiated list.

OUTPUT FORMAT:

Return your assessment as a table followed by a summary:

DimensionScore (1-5)EvidencePriority Revision
Explicit Statement
Causal-Link Coverage
Plausibility and Evidence
Testability and Monitoring
Prioritization

Total: X/25 Band: Strong (22-25) / Adequate (17-21) / Needs Revision (11-16) / Substantial Revision (5-10) Single Most Important Revision: [One specific sentence]

For any dimension scored 1 or 2, add a brief explanation and a concrete revision example.

ASSUMPTIONS SECTION TO SCORE:

(See the attached or pasted document.)

Document to review: Attached, or pasted below. Base everything above on it and do not invent details that are not in it.

Rubric · Review a Document · about 827 words

Score the assumptions section of a Theory of Change.

You'll Need

Your Assumptions section of a Theory of Change document

You Get Back

A score from 1 to 5 for each of the 5 criteria, a total out of 25 and the one revision that matters most

Criteria