Using non-participant observation to uncover mechanisms: Insights from a realist evaluation

Handley, Melanie; Bunn, Frances; Lynch, Jennifer; Goodman, Claire

doi:10.1177/1356389019869036

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Participant and non-participant observations can also be used for collecting information relevant to the structures or the context of the social agents. (Handley et al, 2020). Participatory approaches such as Photovoice methods are also valuable as the images participants provide illustrate metaphors for their life situations, experiences, and/or emotions (Woodgate et al, 2017).…”

Section: Qualitative Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retroductive Theorizing: A Contribution of Critical Realism to Mixed Methods Research

Mukumbang

2021

Journal of Mixed Methods Research

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Mixed methods studies in social sciences are predominantly employed to explore broad, complex, and multifaceted issues and to evaluate policies and interventions. The integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences most often follows the Peircean pragmatic approach—abductive hypothesis formation followed by deductive and inductive testing/confirmation—with limited theorizing properties. This paper contributes to the field of mixed methods research in social sciences by explicating a two-way interaction process between mixed methods data and [social] theory in a pluralistic inferencing approach espoused by critical realism—retroductive theorizing. The paper further illustrates how through retroductive theorizing, critical realism offers a more epistemologically and ontologically grounded alternative for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods compared to pragmatism.

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Section: Qualitative Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retroductive Theorizing: A Contribution of Critical Realism to Mixed Methods Research

Mukumbang

2021

Journal of Mixed Methods Research

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“…The care concept of the SCU was developed by practitioners and guided by their experience, and the initial programme theory was based on their assumptions and research evidence. However, the changes, extensions and re nements to the initial programme theory yielded by the process evaluation show how important empirical data from the speci c context are for understanding the mechanisms [50]. We gathered data from different contexts, namely, from SCUs and NSNHs, and the constant comparison of the contexts and the interventions, along with a qualitative data-driven research paradigm, enhanced the understanding of the potentially unknown active ingredients of the care concept.…”

Section: Methodological Discussion Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study shows that complex programmes rely on mechanisms that can be unexpected and that elude initial assessment by researchers. Therefore, it is advisable to include empirical data in the development of programme theories of complex programmes [49,50]. To further develop the theoretical understanding of dementia care in long-term care, future research should pay more attention to the questions of what works for whom under what circumstances [51] and thereby contribute to an overarching understanding of the active ingredients and their mechanisms of impact of specialised dementia care.…”

Section: Promotion Of Relaxation Engagement In Activities and Social Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms Of Impact And Contextual Aspects of A Care Concept From A Dementia Special Care Unit In Long-Term Care: Process Evaluation As Part of A Theory-Driven Evaluation

Adlbrecht

Bartholomeyczik

Mayer

2021

Preprint

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Background: In long-term care, persons with dementia are often cared for in specialised facilities, which are rather heterogeneous in regard to their design and care concepts. Little information is available on how these facilities and care concepts bring about changes in the targeted outcomes. Such knowledge is needed to understand the effects of care concepts and to consciously shape further developments. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of impact of a specific care concept from a dementia special care unit and the contextual aspects that influence its implementation or outcomes.Methods: Using a qualitative approach to process evaluation of complex interventions, we conducted participating observations and focus groups with nurses and single interviews with ward and nursing home managers. Data were collected from two identical dementia special care units to enhance the contrasts in the analysis of two non-specialised nursing homes. We analysed the data thematically. We conducted 16 observations, three group interviews and eleven individual interviews.Results: We identified seven themes in three domains related to mechanisms that lead to outcomes regarding residents’ and nurses’ behaviour and well-being. The development of nurses' skills and knowledge changes team-level competence and leads to an altered understanding of nursing. The promotion of a positive work climate reduces distress and promotes the long-term implementation of the care concept. Adjusted spatial structures and personnel strategies facilitate the implementation of interventions for residents and promote the fulfilment of their needs. Personalised psychosocial interventions promote residents' relaxation, engagement in activities and social interaction and thereby empower them to become part of the social community, to spend their time purposefully, to have positive experiences and to experience belonging and affection. The implementation and outcomes of the care concept are influenced by contextual aspects relating to the (target) population and cultural, organisational and financial features.Conclusions: The care concept of the dementia special care unit results in higher levels of relaxation, activities, and social interaction of residents. Its implementation highly depends on the shared understanding of nursing and the skills of the nursing team. Changes in residents’ characteristics result in altered effects of the concept.Trial registration: DRKS00011513

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“…Data will be collected via videorecording of the group reflections approved by the participants. Videorecording as a data collection method is commonly used in, among others, nursing research 61 62. According to Caldwell and Atwal, videorecording can be considered non-participant observation 61.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Caldwell and Atwal, videorecording can be considered non-participant observation 61. By using non-participant observation, participants’ real-time reasoning can be recorded, which can reveal the latent mechanisms 62. This is considered an appropriate approach for the aim of the forthcoming study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying intraprofessional and interprofessional learning processes initiated by an educational intervention applying a qualitative design with multimethod approach: a study protocol

2022

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Introduction Interprofessional collaboration in education and practice has been highlighted as a premise for providing good care. Both the intraprofessional and interprofessional impacts have bearing on healthcare professionals’ performance and learning. Likewise, from the perspective of work-integrated learning, intraprofessional and interprofessional learning play an enduring part in studies about the development of healthcare organisations and professional competence. Educational-intervention research has become significant, which may indicate challenges the healthcare, for example, the area of disabilities is confronting. Earlier studies on intraprofessional and interprofessional learning have often focused on the learning outcome, whereas the learning process remains unexplored. The learning process is complex and is normally influenced by several factors. Therefore, develop knowledge about the intraprofessional and interprofessional learning processes initiated by an educational-intervention and the factors influencing this process may contribute to educational-intervention research, which is also the aim of the forthcoming study. Methods and analysis An inductive qualitative study design with interpretivism as the epistemological stand will be applied. Professionals in healthcare services for people with intellectual disabilities in four residential settings in Sweden are included in the educational-intervention based on web-based training and structured group reflections. Intended data collections are videorecordings of group reflections and individual interviews. An ethnomethodological approach will be applied for studying the details of conversation and interaction in group reflections. The interviews will be analysed using qualitative content analysis to gain participants’ viewpoints of the intervention. Ethics and dissemination Approval was obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, Dnr 35 517. In Addition, a supplemental application to the extended part of the intervention in the forthcoming study has been submitted and approval was received on 21 September 2021. Ethical principles following the Declaration of Helsinki will be strictly followed. Trial registration number NCT03390868; Post-results.

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Using non-participant observation to uncover mechanisms: Insights from a realist evaluation

Cited by 18 publications

References 28 publications

Retroductive Theorizing: A Contribution of Critical Realism to Mixed Methods Research

Retroductive Theorizing: A Contribution of Critical Realism to Mixed Methods Research

Mechanisms Of Impact And Contextual Aspects of A Care Concept From A Dementia Special Care Unit In Long-Term Care: Process Evaluation As Part of A Theory-Driven Evaluation

Studying intraprofessional and interprofessional learning processes initiated by an educational intervention applying a qualitative design with multimethod approach: a study protocol

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