ArticleInternational journal of social research methodology2024
'For Want of a Nail': developing a transparent approach to retroduction and early initial programme theory development in a realist evaluation of community end of life care services.
Article in International journal of social research methodology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Exploring Pathways to Optimise Care in malignant bowel obstruction (EPOC): A realist review of shared decision-making with people with advanced cancer and severe symptoms.Palliative medicine · 2026Review
- Implementing women's sexual and reproductive health interventions in prisons: a realist review.BMJ open · 2026Review
- Understanding the contextual and causal factors shaping the work of receptionists in general practice: a realist review protocol.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Using Individual Service Funds (ISFs) to Improve Access to Self-Directed Support for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Participatory Realist Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID · 2025Review
- Evaluating pharmacist prescribing education programmes: a realist synthesis protocol.BMJ open · 2025Article
- 'People ring because they're frightened': findings from a realist evaluation on the impact of timely responsive care at home at the end of life.BMC palliative care · 2025Article
- Help us document what we already do: pilot study of clinical decision support tools targeting social risk-informed care.JAMIA open · 2025Article
- "The start of something that I hope could be greater": Health information technology tools for social care.SSM. Qualitative research in health · 2025Article
- Conceptualizing maternal mental health in rural Ghana: a realist qualitative analysis.Health policy and planning · 2025Article
- Providing 'professionalism with compassion'; how the time for caring communication can improve experiences at the end-of-life at home, findings from a realist evaluation.BMC palliative care · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
A crucial part of theory-driven realist thinking is retroduction, the process of looking backwards for explanation of how and why things may be. Conducted early in the realist evaluation process, it provides a foundation for evidenced 'theory gleaning'. Despite retroduction being an inherent part of the realist process, it is often 'hidden' in realist reports. This paper explains the thinking behind, alongside an example of, a framework created by the authors to make transparent the retroductive process as used in a realist evaluation of two community End of Life Care services. The approach makes visible the application of the 'sociological imagination' and lends robustness to hypotheses by establishing how the authors utilised: wide-ranging potential generative causation; stakeholder and Patient and Public Involvement feedback; literature scoping; and substantive theories at the middle range, specifically Transitions Theory. These stages led to the development of Initial Programme Theories, with a clear history of genesis.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.