Full Description
Bringing together leading theorists, researchers and policy makers with expertise in using realist methods, this book is a definitive guide to putting realist methodologies into practice.
Not just an overview of the field, this book looks to extend current debates and apply realist methods to new and practical challenges in social research. Featuring practical, worked examples of how to turn theory into evidence, it empowers readers not just to understand realist methods, but to use them.
It will help readers:
- Negotiate the complexity of relational systems
- Understand the importance and relevance of cumulative theory
- Address concerns over data sources and quality
- Be flexible and creative in realist approaches
- Produce useful evidence for policy.
Sophisticated and globally minded, this book is the perfect addition to the ongoing development and application of realist methods across evaluation, synthesis, and social research.
Contents
Introduction: Doing realist evaluation, synthesis and research - Nick Emmel, Joanne Greenhalgh, Ana Manzano, Mark Monaghan, and Sonia Dalkin
Chapter 1: The middle range methodology of realist evaluation - Nick Tilley
Chapter 2: Making up mechanisms in realist research - Malcolm Williams
Realists need mechanisms, so what are they?
The epistemology and ontology of mechanisms
Measurement and evidence
Some mechanisms
Chapter 3: Understanding mechanisms in realist evaluation and research - Gill Westhorp
Constructs of mechanism
Mechanisms in evaluation
Open systems
Alternate constructs of mechanism
Powers and liabilities
Interactions
Processes
Reasoning and resources
Multiple constructs of mechanism
Mechanisms and the context-mechanism relationship
Chapter 4: Making claims using realist methods - Brad Astbury
Historical context
Conducting realist evaluation: an illustration
The set-up
Enter middle-range theory
Tricks of the realist trade
Chapter 5: Theory and realist methods - Bruno Marchal, Guy Kegels and Sara Van Belle
Using realist evaluation in HPSR in low-resource settings
With which theory to start?
How to elicit the initial programme theory
Chapter 6: Researching complex large scale nested interventions - David Byrne
Large scale interventions
Defining boundaries
Traces of the conditions of a system
Chapter 7: Using realist approaches to explain the costs and cost-effectiveness of programmes - Rob Anderson, Rebecca Hardwick, Mark Pearson, and Richard Byng
What are realist evaluations?
What are economic evaluations?
How are they different from realist evaluation?
Measurement vs explanation/theory-building
Creating localised vs generalizable knowledge
What would more explanatory economic evaluation look like?
Programme theories of cost-effectiveness - a worked example
Refining the theories of cost-effectiveness
Chapter 8: Data gathering for realist reviews - Geoff Wong
Gathering data
Relevant data
Programme theory
Rigour, data 'quality' and more...
Chapter 9: Scoping and searching to support realist approaches - Andrew Booth, Judy Wright and Simon Briscoe
The "realist search" and synthesis
Complementary searching techniques
The role of the information specialist in supporting realist approaches
Elements of a "realist search"
Sources of programme theories
Chapter 10: Evidence from realist research, its influence and impact - Mark Monaghan and Annette Boaz
Impact debates
The emergence of the systematic review
Considering the emergence and reach of realist review
Some provisional lessons from and for realist review
Analysing impact
Chapter 11: Realist research, guidelines and the politics of evidence - Mike Kelly
EBM, clinical medicine and public health
Epistemic shifts
Developing the evidence base and guidelines in public health in practice
Guideline development
Realism and EBM meet realpolitik
Chapter 12: Realist memorabilia - Ray Pawson
The test of time
CMO revisited
Utilisation
