Participatory systems mapping for complex energy policy evaluation

The use of complexity science in evaluation has received growing attention over the last 20 years. We present the use of a novel complexity-appropriate method – Participatory Systems Mapping – in two real-world evaluation contexts and consider how this method can be applied more widely in evaluation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEvaluation (London, England. 1995) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 57 - 79
Main Authors Barbrook-Johnson, Pete, Penn, Alexandra
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2021
Subjects
evaluation
complexity
systems mapping
energy
policy
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Summary:The use of complexity science in evaluation has received growing attention over the last 20 years. We present the use of a novel complexity-appropriate method – Participatory Systems Mapping – in two real-world evaluation contexts and consider how this method can be applied more widely in evaluation. Participatory Systems Mapping involves the production of a causal map of a system by a diverse set of stakeholders. The map, once refined and validated, can be analysed and used in a variety of ways in an evaluation or in evaluation planning. The analysis approach combines network analysis with subjective information from stakeholders. We suggest Participatory Systems Mapping shows great potential to offer value to evaluators due to the unique insights it offers, the relative ease of its use, and its complementarity with existing evaluation approaches and methods.
ISSN:1356-3890
1461-7153
DOI:10.1177/1356389020976153