Assessing the Impact of Planned Social Change

Why this matters here

Campbell’s 1979 Evaluation and Program Planning article on assessing planned social change is a primary source for the target-distortion dynamic later associated with Goodhart/Campbell effects—indicators cease to be good measures once used as targets. Coupling cites that pressure where DORA and delivery metrics risk defining success instead of triggering inquiry. Campbell names the measurement hazard; the book asks how teams keep metrics coupled to learning rather than to defended scores.