Publications

Papers, chapters, reports and talks, from the clinical psychology research of the Sarajevo years, through the proMENTE research reports, to recent work on causal mapping and AI. Where a copy is online, the title links to it.

See also my Google Scholar profile and the Causal Map Garden bibliography.

Journal articles

• Caldas Cabral, G., & Powell, S. (2026). Listening at scale: AI-assisted causal mapping for inclusive evaluation. Revista Brasileira de Avaliação, 15(2 spe), e153426.
• Friese, S., Nguyen-Trung, K., Powell, S., & Morgan, D. L. (2026). Beyond Binary Positions: Making Space for Critical and Reflexive GenAI Integration in Qualitative Research. Qualitative Inquiry.
• Powell, S., Caldas Cabral, G., & Mishan, H. (2025). A workflow for collecting and understanding stories at scale, supported by artificial intelligence. Evaluation, 31(3), 394-411.
• Powell, S., & Caldas Cabral, G. (2025). AI-assisted causal mapping: a validation study. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 1-20.
• Powell, S., Caldas Cabral, G., & Mishan, H. (2024). An M&E time machine: Using AI to measure changes in a system across a time period on features which only emerge during it [Preprint]. Figshare.
• Powell, S., Copestake, J., & Remnant, F. (2024). Causal mapping for evaluators. Evaluation, 30(1), 100-119.
• Powell, S. (2019). Supplement to Theories of Change: Making Value Explicit. Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, 15(32), 53–54.
• Comtesse, H., Powell, S., Soldo, A., Hagl, M., & Rosner, R. (2019). Long-term psychological distress of Bosnian war survivors: an 11-year follow-up of former displaced persons, returnees, and stayers. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1).
• Powell, S. (2019). Theories of Change: Making Value Explicit. Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, 15(32), 37-52.
• Powell, S. (2019). A reproducible workflow for evaluation reports. The Evaluator, (Spring).
• Powell, S. (2018). The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect. Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, 14(31), 47–54.
• Powell, S. (2017). Visualizing Theories of Change - how not to confuse causes and definitions. Eval - Online Journal of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Evaluation Society, 1(1).
• Hagl, M., Powell, S., Rosner, R., & Butollo, W. (2015). Dialogical Exposure with Traumatically Bereaved Bosnian Women: Findings from a Controlled Trial: Dialogical Exposure for Traumatic Loss. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22(6), 604-618.
• Bosancianu, C. M., Powell, S., & Bratović, E. (2013). Social Capital and Pro-Social Behavior Online and Offline. International Journal of Internet Science, 8(1).
• Powell, S., Butollo, W., & Hagl, M. (2010). Missing or killed: The differential effect on mental health in women in Bosnia and Herzegovina of the confirmed or unconfirmed loss of their husbands. European Psychologist, 15(3), 185-192.
• Powell, S. (2009). Volunteerism. Helping one another through the transition. Development & Transition, (14), 24–26.
• Rosner, R., & Powell, S. (2007). Überschätzt die ICD-10 die PTBS-Prävalenz? Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Diagnosekriterien auf Schätzungen der Rate der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung. Trauma und Gewalt, 1(1), 46-57.
• Powell, S., & Rosner, R. (2005). The Bosnian version of the international self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, is reliable and valid in a variety of different adult samples affected by war. BMC Psychiatry, 5(11).
• Powell, S., & Durakovic-Belko, E. (2004). Sarajevo 2000: the psychosocial consequences of war, Results of empirical research from the territory of former Yugoslavia. Journal of Human Sciences, 1(1).
• Powell, S., Rosner, R., Butollo, W., Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2003). Posttraumatic growth after war: A study with former refugees and displaced people in Sarajevo. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(1), 71-83.
• Rosner, R., Powell, S., & Butollo, W. (2003). Posttraumatic stress disorder three years after the siege of Sarajevo. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(1), 41-55.
• Powell, S. (2003). Review of Biro, M., & Butollo, W. (Eds.), Klinička psihologija. Psihologija, 36(1), 117-118.
• Rosner, R., & Powell, S. (2002). Why do people in Bosnia-Herzegovina go into treatment? The role of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in psychotherapy service utilization. European Psychotherapy, 3(1), 117–129.
• Duraković-Belko, E., & Powell, S. (2000). Sarajevo 2000: Psihosocijalne posljedice rata.

Book chapters

• Rassmann, K., Powell, S., Caldas Cabral, G., & Müllegger, B. (2026). The role of AI-driven interviewers in evaluating and promoting democratic processes. In Kleist, J. O., Weiberg, M., & Müller, S. (Eds.), Demokratie im Zeitalter Künstlicher Intelligenz: Praxis und Ethik KI-gestützter Evaluation (pp. 177-203). transcript Verlag.
• Ferretti, S., & Powell, S. (2026). Using AI for interviewing in a challenging context. In Bruce, K., Gandhi, V., & Bohni Nielsen, S. (Eds.), From Algorithms to Evidence: Using GenAI in Evaluation Practice (pp. 120-128). Routledge.
• Remnant, F., Copestake, J., Powell, S., & Channon, M. (2025). Qualitative Causal Mapping in Evaluations. In Kaehne, A., & Feather, J. (Eds.), Handbook of Health Services Evaluation: Theories, Methods and Innovative Practices (pp. 207-227). Springer Nature Switzerland.
• Powell, S., Larquemin, A., Copestake, J., Remnant, F., & Avard, R. (2023). Does our theory match your theory? Theories of change and causal maps in Ghana. In Simeone, L., Drabble, D., Morelli, N., & de Götzen, A. (Eds.), Strategic Thinking, Design and the Theory of Change. A Framework for Designing Impactful and Transformational Social Interventions (pp. 232-250). Edward Elgar.
• Powell, S. (2012). Postwar Developments. In Maragkos, M. (Eds.), Begegnung, Dialog und Integration. Festschrift zur Emeritierung von Prof. Dr. Willi Butollo. dgvt-Verlag.
• Golubeva, M., Powell, S., & Nedelcu, A. (2011). Separate schooling of minorities in Eastern and South Eastern Europe: Is there a way to overcome the negative effects of segregation?. In Bakker, J., Denessen, E., Peters, D., & Walraven, G. (Eds.), International perspectives on countering school segregation. Garant Publishers.
• Powell, S., Molander, J., & Čelebičić, I. (2011). Assessment of Outcome Mapping as a tool for evaluating and monitoring support to civil society organisations. In Sedlacko, M., & Martinuzzi, A. (Eds.), Governance by Evaluation for Sustainable Development: Institutional Capacities and Learning (pp. 215-232). Edward Elgar.
• Rosner, R., & Powell, S. (2006). Posttraumatic growth after war. In Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (Eds.), Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and Practice (pp. 197-213). Lawrence Erlbaum.

Books, edited volumes, reports and thesis

• Cabral, G., Copestake, J., & Powell, S. (2025). Using AI to facilitate feedback on the learning experiences of doctoral students. Causal Map Garden.
• Britt, H., Powell, S., & Caldas Cabral, G. (2025). Strengthening Outcome Harvesting with AI-assisted causal mapping. Causal Pathways Initiative.
• Powell, S., & Causal Map Ltd. (2021). Guide to Causal Mapping.
• Powell, S. (2020). Federation-wide Meta evaluation of Nepal Earthquake Response. IFRC.
• Powell, S. (2018). GYA Impact Assessment. Global Young Academy.
• Powell, S. (2016). Early warning, early action: the first and last mile.
• Mesbah, L., & Powell, S. (2016). Analysis of small and large conservation grants in Central and West Africa. IUCN.
• Powell, S. (2016). Terminal Evaluation of the 2nd Long- Term Strategy on Engagement and Involvement of Young People in Environmental Issues ( Tunza Strategy ). UNEP.
• Powell, S., & Repac, I. (2013). Dataset and description from project: Involvement of parents in the life of schools in South-East Europe. Figshare.
• Powell, S. (2013). Vorbereitung für Katastrophen: Workshop zur Resilienzforschung an der LMU München (mit Beitrag von Steve Powell). Deutschlandfunk.
• Powell, S. (2013). Fiji (Pacific Islands): Evaluation of the Response Fund Supported Activities of the UNICEF Pacific HIV & AIDS Programme. UNICEF; http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/index_73504.html.
• Powell, S. (2013). Measuring resilience?.
• Powell, S. (2012). Haiti Evaluation Framework. IFRC.
• Powell, S. (2012). The psychosocial consequences of the 1992-5 war in Bosnia & Herzegovina. School of Health and Social Sciences, Middlesex University (PhD Thesis).
• Powell, S. (2012). Does maintaining supply of water and sanitation in IDP sites after the relief phase encourage people to stay in the sites? Does cutting them encourage people to leave?. Social Data Blog.
• Powell, S. (2011). Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) tools for Political Party Development. NDI, Washington.
• Powell, S. (2011). Roma parents’ views on participation in education in B&H.
• Kovacs-Cerovic, T., Vizek-Vidović, V., & Powell, S. (2010). School Governance and Social Inclusion: Involvement of Parents. South East Europe Cross Country Survey of Parents’ Views. CEPS.
• Powell, S. (2010). End of Project evaluation. Psychosocial Support Project: ARC Tsunami Response Program - Indonesia. ARC.
• Powell, S., & Bratović, E. (2010). Technical assistance to the South East Europe children’s rights ombudspersons’ network. Save the Children Norway.
• Powell, S. (2010). Analysis of the combined survey datasets from the American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program Psycho-Social Project (adult community respondents). ARC.
• Powell, S. (2010). National Survey of Parents in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. Basic statistical results including data from survey of Principals.
• Powell, S. (2010). Methodology: National Face - to - Face Surveys of Representative Samples of Parents of Elementary School Children in 10 South East European Countries. OSI-ESP.
• Powell, S. (2010). National Survey of Parents in Bosnia and Herzegovina: basic statistical results including data from survey of Principals. proMENTE.
• Powell, S. (2010). Sectoral evaluation: Final Tsunami Response Program: psychosocial projects.
• Powell, S. (2010). Understanding volunteerism for development in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. UNV/UNDP.
• Powell, S. (2010). Sectoral assessment of American Red Cross psychosocial support in four countries after the East Asian Tsunami. ARC.
• Kadić, A., Powell, S., & Lepić, S. (2009). Qualitative research on students and employers needs and interests in the school-work transition. gopa.
• Pop, D., & Powell, S. (2009). School Governance and Social Inclusion - Involvement of Parents.
• Pop, D., Powell, S., Miljević, G., & Crighton, J. (2009). Cross-national survey of school principals. OSI-ESP.
• Powell, S., Bratović, E., & Kadić, A. (2009). Podijeljeno Obrazovanje, Podijeljeni građani.
• Powell, S. (2009). Survey Research on stakeholder satisfaction with the Handbook on Human Resources.
• Čelebičić, I., Bratović, E., Kadić, A., & Powell, S. (2009). Roditelji - partneri škole. Stavovi direktora škola o učešću roditelja u školskim aktivnostima. proMENTE.
• Golubeva, M., Powell, S., Kazimzade, E., & Nedelcu, A. (2009). Divided Education, Divided Citizens? A comparative study of civil enculturation in separate schools. NEPC.
• Powell, S., & Bratović, E. (2008). Stakeholder Participation in Schools: Literature Review. Open Society Institute.
• Powell, S. (2008). ESP school principals research: BiH. proMENTE.
• Powell, S., Čelebičić, I., Bratović, E., & Šišić, A. (2008). Outcome mapping evaluation of six civil society projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sida.
• Husremović, D., Powell, S., Šišić, A., & Dolić, A. (2007). Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina: what are we teaching our children?.
• Husremović, D., Powell, S., Šišić, A., & Dolić, A. (2007). Obrazovanje u Bosni i Hercegovini: Čemu učimo djecu? Analiza sadržaja udžbenika nacionalne grupe predmeta. Fond otvoreno društvo Bosna i Hercegovina.
• Powell, S., & Bratović, E. (2006). We can. We volunteer. Pro-social values/behaviour and employability amongst young people in SEE and the impact of volunteer work camps. SEEYN: South-East European Youth Network.
• Powell, S. (2006). Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in BiH. CRS B&H, proMENTE.
• Powell, S. (2006). Roma-Gadje Dialogue Through Service Initiative: M&E processes. client.
• Powell, S. (2006). The impact of long-term youth voluntary service in Europe: A review of published and unpublished research studies. AVSO/proMENTE.
• Powell, S., & Čelebičić, I. (2005). Mapiranje aktivnosti i usluga NVO-a na polju borbe protiv trgovine ljudima u BiH. CRS BiH.
• Powell, S., & Frederiksen, T. (2005). “Come back with a smile”. SEEYN external evaluation report. SEEYN2.
• Powell, S. (2005). Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in BiH: Mapping report. CRS B&H, proMENTE.
• Bruer, D., Gavranidou, M., Powell, S., Čehić, E., & Butollo, W. (2003). Rückkehrkinder in Bosnien: Probleme, Bewältigungsstrategien, Auffälligkeiten.
• Powell, S., Rosner, R., & Butollo, W. (1998). Flight paths.
• Powell, S., Rosner, R., Krüssmann, M., & Butollo, W. (1998). Checklist of war-related experiences (CWE).
• Bratović, E., & Powell, S. (n.d.). Evaluation of the project “Choosing peace together”. CRS.
• Čelebičić, I., Kadić, A., & Powell, S. (n.d.). Evaluation of the “Youth Bank” programme.
• Čelebičić, I., & Powell, S. (n.d.). Project needs analysis in Zenica and Zavidovići. proMENTE.
• Powell, S., & Bratović, E. (n.d.). “We could never have done this on our own”. Evaluation of the International Commission of Missing Persons. ICMP.
• Powell, S., & Čelebičić, I. (n.d.). From School to Work: Supporting Youth on the Way to Employment and Income. Report to gtz. gtz B&H.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). East Africa Logframe Template for Community Resilience. IFRC.

Conference papers and presentations

• Powell, S. (2026). Lonely in London: A qualitative analysis written entirely by an AI which iteratively edited its own instructions. AIAgents4Qual 2026.
• Powell, S., & Rassmann, K. (2026). From interviews to action: Outcome Harvesting with AI interviewers. UK Evaluation Society Conference 2026.
• Powell, S. (2026). Roundtable: Human-in-the-loop evaluations: Myth-busting and setting realistic expectations on how AI can be used in evaluations. UK Evaluation Society Conference 2026.
• Ferretti, S., & Powell, S. (2026). Interrogating evaluation: A live experiment and conversation, with a little help from AI. European Evaluation Society 2026 Conference.
• Powell, S., & Remnant, F. (2026). Non-mosquitoes do not cause non-mosquito bites. European Evaluation Society 2026 Conference.
• Powell, S. (2025). Panel: Stories as data. UK Evaluation Society Conference 2025.
• Copestake, J., & Powell, S. (2025). Linking evaluation and futures thinking through causal mapping of narrative data. UK Evaluation Society Conference 2025.
• Copestake, J., Powell, S., & Caldas Cabral, G. (2025). Development studies, cognitive causal mapping and futures thinking: A methodological gambit. Development Studies Association Conference 2025, University of Bath.
• Powell, S. (2025). Rigorous workflows in AI-assisted qualitative research. Qualitative Research Symposium 2025, University of Bath.
• Powell, S., & Caldas Cabral, G. (2025). Exploring AI-driven qualitative interviewing: A QualiaInterviews demo. Qualitative Research Symposium 2025, University of Bath.
• Powell, S. (2025). Panel: AI technology for M&E. 6th Biannual Conference of the Western Balkans Evaluation Network.
• Powell, S. (2025). Making sense of thousands of stories with causal mapping. 6th Biannual Conference of the Western Balkans Evaluation Network.
• Powell, S. (2024). Causal mapping for evaluators. Causal Pathways Virtual Symposium 2024.
• Powell, S., Caldas Cabral, G., & Phillips, C. (2024). Using AI to extract, visualise and synthesise causal stories within MSC interviews about social care in Wales. Most Significant Change Online Conference 2024.
• Buchanan, J., & Powell, S. (2024). An exploratory study on the utility of Causal Map to identify community assets that impact on wellbeing. WISERD Annual Conference 2024, University of South Wales.
• Powell, S., Remnant, F., & Caldas Cabral, G. (2024). Causal mapping with simple tools. European Evaluation Society 15th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S., & Rassmann, K. (2024). Automated interviewing with Qualia. European Evaluation Society 15th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S., & Britt, H. (2024). Causal mapping for OH analysis. European Evaluation Society 15th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S. (2023). A simple web app for eliciting composite causal maps from multiple respondents. COMPTEXT 2023, University of Strathclyde.
• Powell, S. (2023). Capturing changes in causal stories over time. COMPTEXT 2023, University of Strathclyde.
• Powell, S. (2023). Automated causal interviews with StorySurvey: Do they work? Do we want them?. UK Evaluation Society Conference 2023.
• Powell, S. (2023). What influences what? Using AI to turn stakeholders’ stories into causal maps, rapidly and at scale. European Evaluation Society 2023 online event: Evaluation for a Just Transition.
• Powell, S. (2023). Causal Map. Causal Pathways Symposium 2023.
• Powell, S., Copestake, J., & Remnant, F. (2022). Causal qualitative data analysis (QDA) with the Causal Map app: A practical introduction. Qualitative Research Symposium 2022, University of Bath.
• Powell, S., & Remnant, F. (2022). Causal QCA: How not to throw away the causal peanuts when doing QCA. UK Evaluation Society Annual Conference 2022.
• Powell, S., Remnant, F., & Copestake, J. (2022). Causal mapping for evaluators. European Evaluation Society 14th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S., & Remnant, F. (2022). Making sense of causal information: A new web app. European Evaluation Society 14th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S., & Remnant, F. (2022). Practical causal mapping for evaluators with the Causal Map app. American Evaluation Association, Evaluation 2022.
• Powell, S., & Remnant, F. (2022). Causal mapping for evaluators. American Evaluation Association, Evaluation 2022.
• Powell, S., Remnant, F., & Buchanan, J. (2022). I feel good here. Causal mapping the determinants of wellbeing in West Wales. UK Evaluation Society.
• Powell, S., Remnant, F., & Copestake, J. (2021). Causal mapping for evaluators: Approaches, tools, controversies. UK Evaluation Society Annual Conference 2021.
• Powell, S. (2019). Theorymaker: Making theory of change diagrams by typing. UK Evaluation Society Annual Conference 2019.
• Powell, S. (2018). Judea Pearl’s causal diagrams: A way to unify different paradigms of programme theory?. UK Evaluation Society Annual Conference 2018.
• Powell, S. (2018). Theorymaker: A grab-bag of graphical tricks and symbols for constructing theories of change. UK Evaluation Society Annual Conference 2018.
• Powell, S. (2018). Panel: Visualising theories of change. European Evaluation Society 13th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S. (2018). Counting what counts: Value in theories of change. European Evaluation Society 13th Biennial Conference.
• Powell, S. (2017). Evalian: a graphical language for evaluation. American Evaluation Association, Evaluation 2017.
• Powell, S. (2013). Measuring community resilience in areas with chronic slow-onset disasters: What programmes need to know. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
• Jurko, L., Bratović, E., Domazet, M., Lepić, S., Powell, S., & Kirss, L. (2012). ESD-Relevant Content in Transitional Countries’ Compulsory Education: a Comparative Perspective.
• Powell, S. (2010). Volunteerism in SEE and CIS: its contribution to development. UNV Bratislava.
• Rosner, R., Powell, S., & Soldo, A. (2009). 10-years after: A follow-up study on war-traumatized civilians in Bosnia.
• Powell, S. (2009). Are minority students and teachers the strongest supporters of educational segregation? A multi-country study. 53rd Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society, Charleston, SC.
• Powell, S. (2008). Challenges in evaluating the impact of youth voluntary service programs. Measuring the Impact of Youth Voluntary Service, The World Bank, Washington.
• Pop, D., & Powell, S. (2008). School principals’ perceptions on parental participation in school life: a structural equation model (work in progress). 48th International Conference on Education, Geneva.
• Powell, S. (2008). Intercultural learning: generic or dyadic? How international short-term voluntary work camps in the West Balkans reduced interethnic mistrust specifically between young people whose countries were in conflict.
• Powell, S. (2007). Shaping policy for voluntary service through research. Intercultural Learning in European Youth Work: which ways forward? European Youth Centre Budapest.
• Powell, S., Bratović, E., & Dolić, A. (2006). Pro-social values/behaviour and employability amongst young people in SEE and the impact of volunteer work camps.
• Bratović, E., & Powell, S. (2006). Omladinski volonterski servis u BiH.
• Sujoldžic, A., & Powell, S. (2004). Optimizacija predloženih zanimanja u procesu profesionalne orijentacije. Presentation made at 14th Psychology Days in Zadar, May 2004. Published at www.unizd.hr/danipsih..
• Powell, S., Kapetanovic, E., & Butollo, W. (2002). Post traumatic growth in Sarajevo after the war: positive versus negative changes. Presentation at 13th Psychology Days.
• Turjačanin, V., Čekrlija, Đ., Powell, S., & Butollo, W. (2002). Etničke distance i etnički stereotipi studenata psihologije u Banjaluci i Sarajevu.
• Rosner, R., Powell, S., & Butollo, W. (2000). Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen (PTB) aufgrund des Krieges in Bosnien 42. Vortrag auf dem Kongreß der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie in Jena.
• Bratović, E., & Powell, S. (n.d.). Online prosocijalno ponašanje među mladim ljudima u jugoistočnoj Evropi.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Overview of European impact studies on full-time voluntary service for youth.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Presentation to the Osce parliamentary assembly. Research into Internal Trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Powell, S., Rosner, R., & Butollo, W. (n.d.). Post traumatic growth in Sarajevo after the war. Presentation at deGPT Conference.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Research in SEE – volunteering and innovation. INNOVATIONS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE VOLUNTEER SERVICE: Youth social inclusion for development in South Eastern Europe. UNV, SEEYN: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Research on volunteering. Seminar on the promotion of local and international youth volunteering for peace building and conflict resolution in Europe. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EU Youth in Action program.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Workshop on Lessons Learned on Psychosocial Programming in the Tsunami Recovery Program.
• Rosner, R., & Powell, S. (n.d.). Daten aus Bosnien: Zivilbevölkerung im Krieg. Fachtagung REFUGIO München.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Die Gefahren für das gute Leben aus dem friedlosen Unbewußten.
• Powell, S. (n.d.). Children speak out.
• Husremović, D., Powell, S., Šišić, A., & Trbić, D. (n.d.). Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina: What are we teaching our children? the Analysis of the ‘national Group of Subjects’ Contents in Textbooks.