Realist Research Blended Course

This blended workshop provides a structured introduction to Realist research, and briefly touches upon other approaches like Theory of Change and Qualitative Comparative Analysis combining theoretical insights with practical examples from public health and policy research. Theory-driven evaluation (TDE) methods are increasingly being adopted worldwide to assess complex interventions. These approaches emphasize understanding how and why an intervention works by examining its underlying mechanisms, contextual influences, and core assumptions. Rather than focusing solely on whether a program or policy is effective, TDE seeks to uncover the reasons and processes behind its success or failure. Realist evaluation asks deeper questions: What works, for whom, in what contexts, and why? This blended course provides a structured introduction to Realist research, combining theoretical insights with practical examples from public health and policy research through readings, activities, recorded lectures, live sessions, and hands-on exercises.