Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M8334

Theory of Change

Theory of Change
StructureHigh supportLogic
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A retrospective planning method. First define the long-term ultimate goal, then work backwards to identify the prerequisites, interventions, and causal logic chain needed to achieve that goal.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Causal chain audit. Don't just list "activities we will do." Draw a logic diagram of "activities -> outputs -> short-term outcomes -> long-term impact" and check for broken assumptions in between (Miracle Gap).

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

ToC builds a causal chain through "backward design": starting from the long-term goal, it works backwards to list the required prerequisites (outputs -> outcomes -> impact) and hidden assumptions. It makes explicit "what we are doing" and "why it works," making it easy to examine breaks.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_changeZH · Explicit
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