This article examines the problematic reductionism and decontextualising nature of hegemonic youth justice intervention evaluation offers a way ahead for realistic, context-sensitive approach to in field. It opens by considering how development risk-based interventions England Wales flowed from fed into modernisation resultant partiality ‘evidence-base’, which shaped practice. then moves critic...

BACKGROUND There is a growing emphasis in public health on the importance of evidence-based interventions to improve population health and reduce health inequities. Equally important is the need for knowledge about how to implement these interventions successfully. Yet, a gap remains between the development of evidence-based public health interventions and their successful implementation. Conve...

INTRODUCTION Long-term medical conditions (LTCs) cause reduced health-related quality of life and considerable health service expenditure. Writing therapy has potential to improve physical and mental health in people with LTCs, but its effectiveness is not established. This project aims to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of therapeutic writing in LTCs by systematic review and econ...

BACKGROUND Improving the health of Traveller Communities is an international public health concern but there is little evidence on effective interventions. This study aimed to explain how, for whom and in what circumstances outreach works in Traveller Communities. METHODS A realist synthesis was undertaken. Systematic literature searches were conducted between August and November 2011. Grey l...

Scientific and Critical Realism attracts increasing attention as a new paradigm of explanation, for many empirical knowledge disciplines. This approach to explaining our social material worlds is underpinned by its ‘depth ontology’, encompassing the reality senses more meta-physical. In this article we introduce explore through rich illustration these alternative ideas about in context everyday...

Topos Quantum Theory (TQT) is standardly portrayed as a kind of ‘neo-realist’ reformulation of quantum mechanics. In this paper, we study the extent to which TQT can really be characterised as a realist formulation of the theory, and examine the question of whether the kind of realism that is provided by TQT satisfies the philosophical motivations that are usually associated with the search for...

Past literature has claimed that knowledge systems can enhance or facilitate the creation, retention, transfer and application of tacit knowledge. While this paper agrees that this objective is realizable, it argues that the literature has so far failed to successfully operationalize this, since at the core of the models published to date lies the flawed epistemological assumption of knowledge ...

BACKGROUND Realist evaluation is increasingly used in health services and other fields of research and evaluation. No previous standards exist for reporting realist evaluations. This standard was developed as part of the RAMESES II project. The project's aim is to produce initial reporting standards for realist evaluations. METHODS We purposively recruited a maximum variety sample of an inter...