Realist inquiry

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KIT Dossier Realist inquiry

Last update: Monday 29 July 2013
  • Complexity science
    The key concepts of complexity science provide a means of understanding dynamics and processes of change found in a range of physical and biological phenomena. Complexity science as it stands at the present day is a collection of ideas and principles, many of which have been influenced by other bodies of knowledge (source: Ramalingam B. and Jones H. 2008).
  • Context
    The circumstances in which HRM interventions are implemented and include the organizational, socio-economic, cultural and political conditions, but also the stakeholders involved, their interests and convictions regarding change and the process of implementation (source: Pawson R. and Tilly N. (1997).
  • Critical realism
    Critical realism is a particular philosophy of science developed by Ray Bhaskar, Rom Harré, Andrew Sayer and others. Adherents of realism maintain that social phenomena are real world objects and that these are not contingent on human observation: they do not only exist in people’s minds and are therefore independent of the researcher’s claims about them.
  • Grounded theory
    Grounded theory (GT) is a systematic qualitative research methodology in the social sciences emphasizing generation of theory from data in the process of conducting research. It is a research method that operates almost in a reverse fashion from traditional research and at first may appear to be in contradiction of the scientific method. (source: Yancey M. and Turner B 1986). 
  • Mechanisms
    Processes leading to change that were triggered by the intervention (source: Pawson R. and Tilly N. 1997).
  • Mid-range theory
    Theory that lies between the minor but necessary working hypotheses (...) and the all-inclusive systematic efforts to develop a unified theory that will explain all the observed uniformities of social behavior, social organization and social change. (source: Merton R.).
  • Outcome
    The intended and unintended results caused by the interaction between the intervention and the context within which it is implemented (source: Pawson R. and Tilly N. 1997).
  • Program theory
    Program theory explains how planners expect the intervention to reach its objective. Describing this often implicit set of assumptions allows to understand what is being implemented and why (not). The programme theory represents a hypothesis that can be tested and further developed. Ref: Chen, H.-T. & Rossi, P. (1987) The theory-driven approach to validity. Evaluation and Program Planning, 10, 95-103.
  • Realist evaluation
    Realist evaluation can be considered as an approach within theory-driven evaluation although it has stronger philosophical underpinnings. It proposes conceptual tools to apply the principles of theory-based evaluation. Ref: Pawson R and Tilly N (1997). Realistic Evaluation, London: Sage publications.
  • Realist inquiry
    Realist inquiry is a research method about which mechanisms cause which outcome under which circumstances. Ref: Pawson R and Tilly N (1997). Realistic Evaluation, London: Sage publications.
  • Realist synthesis
    Realist synthesis aims at informing policymakers through detailed ‘lessons learned’ by providing information on effectiveness but also on the mechanisms that cause the effect and the context conditions that are required to make the intervention work. Ref: Pawson, R., Greenhalgh, T., Harvey, G. & Walshe, K. (2005) Realist review--a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions. J Health Serv Res Policy, 10 Suppl 1, 21-34.
  • Theories of change
    Pragmatic in its approach, theories of change is used to evaluate community-based programmes that typically involve many agencies and actors, have several levels and strands of activities, objectives and strategies that shift in time, and outcomes that are difficult to measure. Ref: Roundtable on Community Change (Aspen Institute, USA).
  • Theory
    “A set of interrelated concepts, definitions and propositions that present a systematic view of events or situations by specifying relations among variables, in order to explain or predict the events or situations (Glanz and Rimmer, cited in Michie and Prestwich, 2010) Ref: Michie S and Prestwich A (2010) Are interventions theory-based? Development of a theory coding scheme, Health Psychology 29 (1):1-8.
  • Theory-driven evaluation (or theory-based)
    Theory-driven evaluation aims at assessing not only the effectiveness of an intervention but also its causal mechanisms, taking into account the context of the intervention. Chen, H.-T. & Rossi, P. (1987) The theory-driven approach to validity. Evaluation and Program Planning, 10, 95-103.
  • Theory-driven inquiry
    The domain of theory-based evaluation has seen quite some evolution since the 1970s. Under the label Theory-driven inquiry, three main evaluation approaches are known (theory-driven evaluation, realist evaluation, and theories of change) that share a strong focus on the theory on which an intervention is based. They all aim at explaining how an intervention works and in which conditions.

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