Explanatory frameworks and accounts

Realist evaluation calls for an explanatory focus in understanding any particular piece of work or issue. This means unpacking what works for who in what circumstances rather than ONLY whether something ‘works’, or not.

An explanatory emphasis also means focusing more on the difference that has been made and how and why that difference has been made, rather than ONLY the initial project outcomes decided in advance (although the pattern of outcomes is still important). This means attending to how the context has influenced a project or issue and including this in your account or analysis.

In practice, this means developing a summary of statements/explanations that aim to lay out the core characteristics and dynamics of an issue, how they are influenced by relevant contexts, and lead to patterns of outcomes in a way that can be tested and refined in future.

By refining and linking up explanations we can start to build an overall picture of the circumstances and dynamics of change in the area we are working to support. This provides a framework for evaluating and demonstrating how the work contributes to positive change. Read more about our approach to explanatory frameworks and accounts in the documents and videos below:
Providing an explanatory account of an area of work or project
Explanatory frameworks and theories presentation slides
Webinar Video: Introduction to explanatory accounts
Webinar Video: Follow-on session on explanatory accounts