Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project
Realist approaches to complex health care evaluations are increasingly used and recommended in national evaluation guidelines. However, there remains a paucity of researcher guidance on methods for elaborating and refining programme theories throughout the stages of a realist evaluation project—from...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Methods |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251370659 |
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| author | Sarah Griffiths Hannah Wheat Sarah Morgan-Trimmer Lauren Weston Alex Gude Tomasina M. Oh Rod Sheaff Richard Byng |
| author_facet | Sarah Griffiths Hannah Wheat Sarah Morgan-Trimmer Lauren Weston Alex Gude Tomasina M. Oh Rod Sheaff Richard Byng |
| author_sort | Sarah Griffiths |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Realist approaches to complex health care evaluations are increasingly used and recommended in national evaluation guidelines. However, there remains a paucity of researcher guidance on methods for elaborating and refining programme theories throughout the stages of a realist evaluation project—from prospective theory development to feasibility work, to full evaluation. We present a step by step worked example of a realist approach to elaborating a programme theory for a health care intervention during the feasibility phase of the Dementia PersonAlised care Team. We explain how multiple qualitative methods can be applied to elaborate initial theory, supporting a shift away from a hypothetical explanation, towards a theory of how the model works in practice. We reflect on what worked well, and problems encountered, attending to both processes and the impact of working. Details are provided on how this approach can help enhance the likelihood of the intervention working in practice—through the application of new insights to interventionists’ training resources. We argue that coding to a framework constructed of ’If-Then’ initial programme theory statements enabled researchers to develop a realist analytic mindset and elaborated programme theory, ready for a fuller evaluation of the D-PACT intervention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-04efd1ba67b448bc8f799c30596ae06d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1609-4069 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Methods |
| spelling | doaj-art-04efd1ba67b448bc8f799c30596ae06d2025-08-26T09:03:24ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692025-08-012410.1177/16094069251370659Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT ProjectSarah GriffithsHannah WheatSarah Morgan-TrimmerLauren WestonAlex GudeTomasina M. OhRod SheaffRichard ByngRealist approaches to complex health care evaluations are increasingly used and recommended in national evaluation guidelines. However, there remains a paucity of researcher guidance on methods for elaborating and refining programme theories throughout the stages of a realist evaluation project—from prospective theory development to feasibility work, to full evaluation. We present a step by step worked example of a realist approach to elaborating a programme theory for a health care intervention during the feasibility phase of the Dementia PersonAlised care Team. We explain how multiple qualitative methods can be applied to elaborate initial theory, supporting a shift away from a hypothetical explanation, towards a theory of how the model works in practice. We reflect on what worked well, and problems encountered, attending to both processes and the impact of working. Details are provided on how this approach can help enhance the likelihood of the intervention working in practice—through the application of new insights to interventionists’ training resources. We argue that coding to a framework constructed of ’If-Then’ initial programme theory statements enabled researchers to develop a realist analytic mindset and elaborated programme theory, ready for a fuller evaluation of the D-PACT intervention.https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251370659 |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Griffiths Hannah Wheat Sarah Morgan-Trimmer Lauren Weston Alex Gude Tomasina M. Oh Rod Sheaff Richard Byng Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project International Journal of Qualitative Methods |
| title | Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project |
| title_full | Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project |
| title_fullStr | Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project |
| title_short | Using a Realist Informed Qualitative Approach to Elaborate Programme Theory: Experiences From the Feasibility Phase of the D-PACT Project |
| title_sort | using a realist informed qualitative approach to elaborate programme theory experiences from the feasibility phase of the d pact project |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251370659 |
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