ABSTRACT
The use of theories of change in evaluation requires logical, critical thinking, but it is also situated in social practices. This essay discusses three particularly thorny issues that often inhibit harvesting the full potential of theories of change. The first is that falsification of theory is logically easier than verification but less welcome in practice. The second is that theories of change are often used for presentational purposes only, but not for genuine evaluation. Finally, it is suggested that a more dialogue-oriented use of theories of change may be a way forward.
