Doing Realist Research

Nick Emmel teaches research methods and the sociology and social policy of international health and health care at the School of Sociology and Social Policy, the University of Leeds. He has conducted extensive research in the UK and India interpreting and explaining processes of vulnerability, with a focus on inequalities and inequities in health. Joanne Greenhalgh′s current research has focused on applying realist evaluation and realist synthesis to the evaluation of healthcare policy and practice.  She was a member of the RAMESES II project team to develop training material and reporting standards for realist evaluation.

• Introduction: Doing realist evaluation, synthesis and research - Nick Emmel, Joanne Greenhalgh, Ana Manzano, Mark Monaghan, and Sonia DalkinChapter 1: The middle range methodology of realist evaluation - Nick TilleyChapter 2: Making up mechanisms in realist research - Malcolm Williams Realists need mechanisms, so what are they?The epistemology and ontology of mechanismsMeasurement and evidenceSome mechanismsChapter 3: Understanding mechanisms in realist evaluation and research - Gill WesthorpConstructs of mechanismMechanisms in evaluationOpen systemsAlternate constructs of mechanismPowers and liabilitiesInteractionsProcessesReasoning and resourcesMultiple constructs of mechanismMechanisms and the context-mechanism relationshipChapter 4: Making claims using realist methods - Brad AstburyHistorical contextConducting realist evaluation: an illustrationThe set-upEnter middle-range theoryTricks of the realist tradeChapter 5: Theory and realist methods - Bruno Marchal, Guy Kegels and Sara Van BelleUsing realist evaluation in HPSR in low-resource settingsWith which theory to start?How to elicit the initial programme theoryChapter 6: Researching complex large scale nested interventions - David ByrneLarge scale interventionsDefining boundariesTraces of the conditions of a systemChapter 7: Using realist approaches to explain the costs and cost-effectiveness of programmes - Rob Anderson, Rebecca Hardwick, Mark Pearson, and Richard ByngWhat are realist evaluations?What are economic evaluations?How are they different from realist evaluation?Measurement vs explanation/theory-buildingCreating localised vs generalizable knowledgeWhat would more explanatory economic evaluation look like?Programme theories of cost-effectiveness – a worked exampleRefining the theories of cost-effectivenessChapter 8: Data gathering for realist reviews - Geoff WongGathering dataRelevant dataProgramme theoryRigour, data ‘quality’ and more...Chapter 9: Scoping and searching to support realist approaches - Andrew Booth, Judy Wright and Simon Briscoe The "realist search" and synthesisComplementary searching techniquesThe role of the information specialist in supporting realist approachesElements of a “realist search”Sources of programme theoriesChapter 10: Evidence from realist research, its influence and impact - Mark Monaghan and Annette Boaz Impact debatesThe emergence of the systematic reviewConsidering the emergence and reach of realist reviewSome provisional lessons from and for realist reviewAnalysing impactChapter 11: Realist research, guidelines and the politics of evidence - Mike Kelly EBM, clinical medicine and public healthEpistemic shiftsDeveloping the evidence base and guidelines in public health in practiceGuideline developmentRealism and EBM meet realpolitikChapter 12: Realist memorabilia - Ray PawsonThe test of timeCMO revisitedUtilisation

This is the book the realist community has been asking for. It offers "tricks of the realist trade", with useful tips for realist researchers and evaluators in areas from eliciting program theory and data gathering to understanding mechanisms. Reading the book is like eavesdropping on leaders in the field as they discuss each others’ work, and indicate future directions for realist approaches.