Testing middle range theories in  realist evaluation: a case of a participatory organisational intervention

Testing middle range theories in realist evaluation: a case of a participatory organisational intervention Hamid Roodbari, Karina Nielsen, Carolyn Axtell, Susan E. Peters, Glorian Sorensen International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp.694-710 Realist evaluation seeks to answer the question of “what works for whom in which circumstances?” through developing and testing middle range theories (MRTs). MRTs are programme theories that outline how certain mechanisms of an intervention work in a specific context to bring about certain outcomes. In this paper, the authors tested an initial MRT about the mechanism of participation. The authors used evidence from a participatory organisational intervention in five worksites of a large multi-national organisation in the US food service industry.Qualitative data from 89 process tracking documents and 24 post-intervention, semi-structured interviews with intervention stakeholders were analysed using template analysis.The operationalised mechanism was partial worksite managers’ engagement with the research team. Six contextual factors (e.g. high workload) impaired participation, and one contextual factor (i.e. existing participatory practices) facilitated participation. Worksite managers’ participation resulted in limited improvement in their awareness of how working conditions can impact on their employees’ safety, health, and well-being. Based on these findings, the authors modified the initial MRT...
Source: International Journal of Workplace Health Management - Category: Occupational Health Authors: Source Type: research