scholarly journals Part 1 - Looking Back and Looking Around: How Parents, Coaches and Athletes See Psychosocial Development in Adolescent Performance Sport.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Lara-Bercial ◽  
Jim McKenna
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Sport Club ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Generative Mechanisms ◽  
Looking Back

Sport has the potential to support psychosocial development in young people. However, extant studies have tended to evaluate purpose-built interventions, leaving regular organised sport relatively overlooked. Moreover, previous work has tended to concentrated on a narrow range of outcomes. To address these gaps, we conducted a season-long ethnography of a youth performance sport club based on a novel Realist Evaluation approach [1]. We construed the club as a social intervention within a complex system of agents and structures. In this - Part 1 - account we detail the perceptions of former and current club parents, players and coaches, using them to build a set of programme theories. The resulting network of outcomes (i.e. self, emotional, social, moral and cognitive) and generative mechanisms (i.e., the attention factory, the greenhouse for growth, the personal boost, and the real-life simulator) spanning across multiple contextual layers provides a nuanced understanding of stakeholders’ views and experiences. This textured perspective of the multi-faceted process of development provides new insights for administrators, coaches and parents to maximise the developmental properties of youth sport, and signposts new avenues for research in this area.

Testing mechanisms in large-N realistic evaluations

Evaluation ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus Ravn
Keyword(s):  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Programme Theory ◽  
Realistic Evaluation ◽  
Social Science Methods ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Large N ◽  
Generative Mechanisms

The concept of generative mechanisms is central to the realistic evaluation approach. They are seen as the drivers of change. Qualitative evidence is especially well suited to unearthing how mechanisms work. However, when evaluating a large-N programme, a realist evaluation might benefit from quantitative tests of the mechanisms hypothesized in the programme theory. Despite this, quantitative tests of mechanisms are rarely applied in realistic evaluation. The purpose of this article is therefore to illustrate how widely used quantitative social science methods can be utilized to test mechanisms in realistic evaluation when evaluating large-N programmes. The proposed methods focus on intra-programme comparison based on the strength of a quantitatively measured mechanism. The article illustrates how simple statistical methods in the form of descriptive statistics and logistic regression can be used to test the influence of mechanisms in generating outcomes.

scholarly journals A realist evaluation exploring simulated patient role-play in pharmacist undergraduate communication training

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisling Kerr ◽  
Judith Strawbridge ◽  
Caroline Kelleher ◽  
James Barlow ◽  
Clare Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Rank Test

Abstract Background Effective communication between pharmacists and patients is essential and improves health outcomes. Simulated patients (SPs) are trained to reproduce real-life situations and can help pharmacy students to develop and adapt their communication skills in a safe, learner-centred environment. The aim of this research was to explore how SP and pharmacy student role-play supports communication training. Methods A mixed methods realist evaluation approach was adopted to test an initial theory relating to SP role-play for pharmacy students. The intervention tested involved complex communication cases in a men’s and women’s health module in year three of a new MPharm programme. This SP session was the first such session, of the programme which exclusively focused on complex communication skills for the students. Data collected comprised video-recordings of both training and mock OSCE sessions, and from student focus groups. Communication videos were scored using the Explanation and Planning Scale (EPSCALE) tool. Scores from SP and mock OSCE sessions were compared using the Wilcoxon-signed rank test. Focus groups were conducted with students about their experience of the training and analysed thematically, through a realist lens. Data was analysed for Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations to produce modified programme theories. Results Forty-six students (n = 46/59, 78 %) consented to their video-recorded interactions to be used. Students identified contextual factors relating to the timing within the course and the setting of the intervention, the debrief and student individual contexts. Mechanisms included authenticity, feedback, reflection, self-awareness and confidence. Negative responses included embarrassment and nervousness. They distinguished outcomes including increased awareness of communication style, more structured communication and increased comfort. However quantitative data showed a decrease (p < 0.001) in communication scores in the mock OSCE compared with scores from training sessions. Modified programme theories relating to SP training for pharmacy students were generated. Conclusions SP role-play is a valuable communication skills training approach. Emphasis should be placed on multiple stakeholder feedback and promotion of reflection. Time limits need to be considered in this context and adjusted to meet student needs, especially for students with lower levels of communication comfort and those communicating in languages different to their first language.

Integrating Research and Practice: Looking Back

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Wang
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Applied Field ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
Scholarly Practice ◽  
Applied Fields ◽  
Looking Back

The Problem The divide between research and practice has long been recognized by both scholars and practitioners in multiple applied fields, including our field of human resource development (HRD). Significant amount of energy has been devoted to identify ways to bridge the gap, yet the divide has remained noticeably wide. Developing scholar-practitioners is considered a viable solution, yet how to prepare them is not quite so clear. The Solution This issue provides an actionable plan by drawing upon the firsthand experiences and real-life examples from those who have successfully crossed the two worlds. By focusing on the how-to, this issue provides a tool box for multiple parties. The Stakeholders Three groups of stakeholders will benefit directly from this issue, scholar-practitioners, practitioners seeking scholarly practice, and scholars desiring to ground their research in practice. This issue will also benefit organizations, intermediaries, and HRD as an applied field.

scholarly journals The contribution of realist evaluation to critical analysis of the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education competitions

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 405-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Brentnall ◽  
Iván Diego Rodríguez ◽  
Nigel Culkin
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Scientific Evaluation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Evaluation Approaches

The purpose of this article is to explore the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education (EE) programmes through the lens of realist evaluation (RE). The interest of the authoring team – a practitioner–academic mix with professional experience including developing EE in primary and secondary schools – lies with EE competitions, a type of intervention recommended for and delivered to students and pupils of all ages. RE is a theory-driven philosophy, methodology and adaptable logic of enquiry with which to conceptualize and analyse such programmes. In this study, we undertake an act of ‘organized scepticism’, as described by evidenced-based policy academic Ray Pawson, to identify and question the declared outcomes of EE competitions in European policy over a 10-year period. However, our contribution goes beyond the application of an evaluation approach, novel to EE. We argue that, while education generally, and EE specifically, appears committed to emulating ‘gold standard’ scientific evaluation approaches (e.g. randomized controlled trials, systematic review and meta-analysis), the field of evidenced-based policymaking has moved on. Now, alternative methodological strategies are being embraced and RE in particular has evolved as an approach which better aligns knowledge production with the reality of complex, socially contingent programmes. By using this approach, we not only establish that education and psychology theories challenge the outcomes of EE competitions declared in policy, but also demonstrate the wider relevance of RE to the appraisal and refinement of the theorizing and practice of entrepreneurship programmes and interventions.

scholarly journals Proposal and Implementation of a User-Centered Design Approach for Smart Grid Technologies: Example of the VERTPOM® Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Helios Raharison ◽  
Emilie Loup-Escande
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Electrical Networks ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
User Centered

Acting to preserve our planet as much as possible is no longer optional in today&#39;s world. To do so, Smart Grids within the framework of electrical networks - involving not only Distribution System Operators (DSOs), but also consumers in their Energy Demand Management (EDM) activity - represent an innovative and sustainable solution. However, the integration of Smart Grids into network management or into consumers&#39; homes implies changes at several levels: organizational, social, psychological, etc. This is why it is essential to consider the human factor in the design of the technologies used in these Smart Grids. This paper proposes the integration of DSO operators and consumers within a user-centered evaluation approach in order to design Smart Grids that are sufficiently acceptable to users to enable Positive Energy Territories that produce more energy than they consume. This demonstration will be illustrated by the VERTPOM&reg; project aiming at facilitating the use of renewable energies specific to each territory in order to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and make the territories less dependent on traditional energies, and thus make Picardy (in France) a Positive Energy Territory. This paper presents the user-centered evaluation approach applied to three technologies (i.e., the VERTPOM-BANK&reg; supervision tool intended for DSO operators, the private web portal and the IBox smart meter intended for households) from the upstream design phase to the implementation of the technologies in real-life situations.

Priorities at the Bedside

2019 ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Ingrid Miljeteig ◽  
Addisu Melkie ◽  
Frehiwot Berhane Defaye ◽  
Ermias Dessie ◽  
Kristine Husøy Onarheim
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
The People ◽  
Catastrophic Health Expenditures ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Financial Burdens ◽  
Allocation Decisions

Out-of-pocket health expenditure is a barrier to accessing basic health care. It imposes major financial burdens, which may drive patients and their families into poverty, which again can aggravate their health conditions. This chapter offers a glimpse into real-life dilemmas and decisions by presenting Ethiopian families’ and health workers’ narratives and experiences of catastrophic health expenditures. The aim is to provide a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of the people behind the numbers. The chapter draws on material from multiple fieldwork experiences in Ethiopia, from the authors’ experiences as health workers in Ethiopia, and from a national survey of Ethiopian physicians. This material shows how overarching global and national priorities influences families’ and health workers’ allocation decisions. Bringing out the actual dilemmas people face can supplement and inform our understanding of the more theoretical and methodological chapters in this book.

scholarly journals Youth Access to Cigarettes Across Seven European Countries: A Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 1989-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulien A W Nuyts ◽  
Rebecca M F Hewer ◽  
Mirte A G Kuipers ◽  
Vincent Lorant ◽  
Adeline Grard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Young People ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Programme Theory ◽  
Vending Machines ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Minimum Age

Abstract Background Despite widespread age-of-sale restrictions on tobacco, adolescents continue to obtain cigarettes and experiment with smoking. This mixed-methods study aimed to understand how European adolescents access cigarettes and how the policy context may influence this process, using a realist evaluation approach. This is the first study to assess access to cigarettes across various European contexts. Methods A survey of 4104 students was combined with qualitative data from focus groups among 319 adolescents aged 14–19 across seven European countries. Data were synthesized to explore mechanisms via which young people obtain cigarettes despite age-of-sale restrictions. Results While purchasing cigarettes from supermarkets was widely regarded as difficult, many participants purchased cigarettes from noncompliant retailers (often in smaller shops or cafes). Other contra-mechanisms included circumventing age checks, proxy purchases, and/or social sources. Dominant forms of access differed across the seven contexts, with direct purchases more common where perceived enforcement was low (eg, Belgium) and proxy purchases more important where perceived enforcement of age-of-sale laws was high (eg, Finland). The effectiveness of age-of-sale restrictions in reducing youth access appears to be influenced by a range of contextual factors including retailer compliance, the availability of vending machines, and the specific minimum age-of-sale. Conclusions Our findings illustrate the relevance of programme theory in understanding the contra-mechanisms that undermine the effectiveness of age-of-sale laws in discouraging youth smoking. Young people’s access to cigarettes could be further limited by addressing these contra-mechanisms, including an increase in the legal sales age (particularly in Belgium), banning vending machines, and strengthening enforcement. Implications Despite widespread implementation of age-of-sale laws, a substantial proportion of minors continue to access cigarettes. Young people use a number of contra-mechanisms to circumvent age-of-sale restrictions. These include accessing cigarettes via social sources, proxy sales or by circumventing age checks. Our findings show that in contexts where perceived enforcement of age-of-sale restrictions is high, young people are more reliant on irregular forms of access such as proxy sales. Young people’s access to cigarettes may be further reduced by policy interventions that address these contra-mechanisms—for example, banning vending machines, strengthening enforcement of age-of-sale laws, and increasing the minimum age-of-sale.

scholarly journals Metaphorical Thinking of Students in Solving Algebraic Problems based on Their Cognitive Styles

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-89
Author(s):  
Muthmainnah Muthmainnah ◽  
Marwan Ramli ◽  
M Ikhsan
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Cognitive Styles ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Metaphorical Thinking ◽  
Algebraic Problem ◽  
Field Independent ◽  
Field Dependent ◽  
Looking Back ◽  
Banda Aceh

One of thinking concepts which connects real life to mathematics is called metaphorical thinking. Metaphor and modelling are two closely related concepts. Besides, each individual performs different cognitive styles, such as field independent (FI) and field dependent (FD) cognitive styles. This factor possibly leads to different metaphorical thinking in solving algebraic problems. The participants of this qualitative research consist of two students at grade 7 of one of junior high school in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, with FI and FD as their cognitive styles. Based on the findings, it is found that: 1) Metaphorical thinking of the student with FI cognitive style in solving the algebraic problem in the stage of understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back is considered to achieve the target for each criteria of CREATE; 2) Metaphorical thinking of the student with FD cognitive style in solving the problem in the all four stages but could not reveal all criteria mentioned in CREATE. This happens as the student is unable to find the appropriate metaphor to the algebraic problem. Therefore, the student does not need to explain the suitability of the metaphor to the algebraic problem.

scholarly journals Facebook as a Medium for the Support and Enhancement of Ambulatory Care for People With Diabetes: Qualitative Realist Evaluation of a Real-World Trial

JMIR Diabetes ◽  
10.2196/18146 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. e18146
Author(s):  
Bryan Cleal ◽  
Ingrid Willaing ◽  
Mette T Hoybye ◽  
Henrik H Thomsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Program Theory ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Provider Communication ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Diabetes Technology ◽  
Patient Provider Communication

Background There is a growing focus on the potential uses, benefits, and limitations of social media in the context of health care communication. In this study, we have sought to evaluate an initiative pioneered at a hospital in Denmark that uses Facebook to support and enhance patient-provider communication about diabetes. Objective This paper aims to evaluate the success of the trial according to its initial objectives and to assess its potential scalability. Methods The study was undertaken in a clinic for diabetes and hormonal diseases at a large regional hospital in Denmark. Using a realist evaluation approach, we identified 4 key components in the program theory of the initiative, which we formulated as context-mechanism-outcome configurations (eg, complex and iterative chains of causality). These configurations informed data gathering and analysis. Primary data sources were the activity and content in the Facebook group, in the form of posts, likes, and comments, and interviews with patients (n=26) and staff (n=6) at the clinic. Results New developments in diabetes technology were the most popular posts in the forum, judged by number of likes and comments. Otherwise, information specific to the clinic received the most attention. All 4 components of the program theory were compromised to varying degrees, either as a result of failings in the anticipated mechanisms of change or contextual factors derived from the mode of implementation. Conclusions Social media serves well as a conduit for imagining positive change, but this can be a strength and weakness when attempting to enact change via concrete interventions, where stakeholder expectations may be unreasonably high or incompatible. Nonetheless, such initiatives may possess intangible benefits difficult to measure in terms of cost-effectiveness.

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