There is growing interest in realist synthesis as an alternative systematic review method. This approach offers the potential to expand knowledge base policy-relevant areas - for example, by explaining success, failure or mixed fortunes of complex interventions. No previous publication standards exist reporting syntheses. standard was developed part RAMESES (Realist And MEta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) project. The project's aim produce preliminary reviews.We (a)...

Realist evaluation is increasingly used in health services and other fields of research evaluation. No previous standards exist for reporting realist evaluations. This standard was developed as part the RAMESES II project. The project’s aim to produce initial We purposively recruited a maximum variety sample an international group experts our online Delphi panel. Panel members came from disciplines, sectors policy fields. prepared briefing materials panel by summarising most recent...

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is an approach in which researchers and community stakeholders form equitable partnerships to tackle issues related health improvement knowledge production. Our 2012 realist review of CBPR outcomes reported long-term effects that were touched upon but not fully explained the retained literature. To further explore such effects, interviews conducted with academic partners review. Realist methodology was used increase understanding what supports...

Meta-narrative review is one of an emerging menu new approaches to qualitative and mixed-method systematic review. A meta-narrative seeks illuminate a heterogeneous topic area by highlighting the contrasting complementary ways in which researchers have studied same or similar topic. No previous publication standards exist for reporting reviews. This standard was developed as part RAMESES (Realist And MEta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) project. The project's aim produce...

The UK Medical Research Council defines complex interventions as those comprising "a number of separate elements which seem essential to the proper functioning although 'active ingredient' intervention that is effective difficult specify." A typical example specialist care on a stroke unit, involves wide range health professionals delivering variety treatments. Michelle Campbell and colleagues have argued there are "specific difficulties in defining, developing, documenting, reproducing...

Abstract Background There is growing interest in realist synthesis as an alternative systematic review method. This approach offers the potential to expand knowledge base policy‐relevant areas – for example, by explaining success, failure or mixed fortunes of complex interventions. No previous publication standards exist reporting syntheses. standard was developed part RAMESES (Realist And ME ta‐narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) project. The project's aim produce preliminary...

Education is a complex intervention which produces different outcomes in circumstances. researchers have long recognised the need to supplement experimental studies of efficacy with broader range study designs that will help unpack 'how' and 'why' questions illuminate many, varied interdependent mechanisms by interventions may work (or fail work) contexts.One promising approach realist evaluation, seeks establish what works, for whom, circumstances, respects, extent, why. This paper...

Abstract Background Meta‐narrative review is one of an emerging menu new approaches to qualitative and mixed‐method systematic review. A meta‐narrative seeks illuminate a heterogeneous topic area by highlighting the contrasting complementary ways researchers have studied same or similar topic. No previous publication standards exist for reporting reviews. This standard was developed as part RAMESES (Realist And ME ta‐narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) project. The project's...

There is growing interest in theory-driven, qualitative and mixed-method approaches to systematic review as an alternative (or extend supplement) conventional Cochrane-style reviews. These offer the potential expand knowledge base policy-relevant areas - for example by explaining success, failure or mixed fortunes of complex interventions. However, quality such reviews can be difficult assess. This study aims produce methodological guidance, publication standards training resources those...

Background There is growing interest in theory-driven, qualitative and mixed-method approaches to systematic review, such as realist meta-narrative review. These offer the potential expand knowledge base policy-relevant areas. However, quality of reviews can be difficult assess. Objectives The aim this project was produce methodological guidance, publication standards training resources for those seeking undertake and/or reviews. Methods/design We (1) collated summarised existing literature...

Background Many of the problems confronting policy- and decision-makers, evaluators researchers today are complex, as interventions designed to tackle them. Their success depends both on individuals’ responses wider context people’s lives. Realist evaluation tries make sense these complex interventions. It is a form theory-driven evaluation, based realist philosophy, that aims understand why work, how, for whom, in what extent. Objectives Our objectives were develop (a) quality standards,...

Realist evaluation is an increasingly popular methodology in health services research. For realist evaluations (RE) this project aims to: develop quality and reporting standards training materials; build capacity for undertaking critically evaluating them; produce resources materials lay participants, those seeking to involve them.To achieve our aims, we will: (1) Establish management governance infrastructure; (2) Recruit interdisciplinary Delphi panel of 35 participants with diverse...

Realist review has increased in popularity as a methodology for complex intervention assessment. Our experience suggests that the process of designing realist requires its customization to areas under investigation. To elaborate on this idea, we first describe logic underpinning and then present critical reflections our application experience, organized seven areas. These are following: (1) challenge identifying middle range theory; (2) addressing heterogeneity lack conceptual clarity; (3)...

The authors present a case study examining the potential for policies to be “evidence-based.” To what extent is it possible say that decision implement complex social intervention warranted on basis of available empirical data? chosen whether there sufficient evidence justify banning smoking in cars carrying children. numerous assumptions underpinning such legislation are elicited, weight and validity each appraised, mixed picture emerges. Certain propositions seem well supported; others not...