Challenges related to the analytical process in realist evaluation and latest developments on the use of NVivo from a realist perspective

ABSTRACT

Realist evaluation (RE) is a research design increasingly used in program evaluation, that aims to explore and understand the influence of context and underlying mechanisms on intervention or program outcomes. Several methodological challenges, however, are associated with this approach. This article summarizes RE key principles and examines some documented challenges and solutions when analyzing RE data, including the development of Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations. An analytic method using NVivo features is also presented. This method makes it possible to respond to certain analytic difficulties associated with RE by facilitating the identification of patterns and ensuring transparency in the analytical process.

KEYWORDS:

• Realist evaluation
• qualitative data analysis software
• NVivo
• C-M-O configuration

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Meg Sears for the linguistic revision.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by scholarships from Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de la Science du Québec and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke.

Notes on contributors

Dave A. Bergeron

Dave A. Bergeron is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing at Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski (Québec), Canada and an adjunct professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil (Québec), Canada.

Isabelle Gaboury

Isabelle Gaboury is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil (Québec), Canada.