Gill Westhorp
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 259918 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Gill Westhorp |
| PRENOMES | Gill |
| SOBRENOME | Westhorp |
| ASSINATURA | WESTHORP G |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Charles Darwin University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8451-2860 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 16 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 48 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 16 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 1995 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 4 |
Developing initial programme theory for realist economic evaluation
It is increasingly recognised that ‘big problems’ in health and social care require well-designed solutions and robust evaluation, including attention to costs as well as outcomes. This is especially important in the pervasive environment of resource scarcity. Decisions need to be made that consider not only whether and how an intervention works but also affordability and efficiency in different circumstances and populations. As researchers tackl…
Bringing together realist and economic approaches in the evaluation of health and social care interventions
BACKGROUND: In the evaluation of complex interventions, economic evaluations aim to determine the relative cost-effectiveness of interventions but generate little explanation of how or why contexts and underlying causal mechanisms impact this. Conversely, realist approaches aim to explain 'what works, for whom, in which circumstances and why' but rarely capture the economic costs and consequences of interventions. As a result, many evaluations re…
Realist Needs Assessment Investigating the Factors Affecting Implementation of Guideline-Based Care for Chronic Pain in Rural Australia
We developed a realist program theory describing factors that affect healthcare professionals' delivery of guideline-based pain care in rural Australia as part of a realist-informed needs assessment. To our knowledge, this project is the first to apply a realist research approach to conducting a needs assessment. We conducted and analysed realist informed teacher-learner cycle interviews with rural healthcare professionals to inform our program t…
Feasibility and desirability of a realist CMOC database
Central to realist evaluation is its focus on underlying generative mechanisms that cause outcomes in particular contexts, often presented as context–mechanism–outcome configurations. The first author brought together 22 realist evaluation experts in a Delphi technique-inspired exercise to explore the potential of creating a database from context–mechanism–outcome configurations identified in the empirical literature, to enhance learning about wh…
Using surveys in realist evaluation
Realist evaluation is a theory-based approach to evaluation which examines what works in what respects and to what extent, for whom, in what contexts and how. It focuses on identifying underlying mechanisms which cause outcomes and the contextual factors necessary for their operation. Despite realist evaluation being ‘agnostic’ about methods, qualitative approaches have been heavily favoured in practice. This paper argues that the use of surveys …
Understanding sustainable outcomes in international development
Billions of dollars continue to be provided in foreign aid each year. However, few scholarly studies have examined whether the outcomes from foreign aid interventions are sustained after donor funding has ceased. This paper examines current approaches to assessing this issue before arguing that a realist evaluation approach is ideally suited to understand why and how sustained outcomes are—or are not—achieved. It contributes to the existing liter…
Impacts of child sponsorship communications
Child sponsorship programmes often seek to establish a personal relationship between a sponsor and child through the exchange of letters, photos, and sometimes gifts. This paper examines the impact of these activities using data from communities supported by World Vision in Georgia, Ethiopia, Peru, Senegal, and Sri Lanka. Findings indicate that some types of communications were associated with higher levels of psychosocial wellbeing. While findin…
A Potent Fuel? Faith Identity and Development Impact in World Vision Community Programming
This paper explores the role of faith identity on impact in development by looking at the programming of a major international faith‐based development organisation (FBDO). It argues that faith identity rests not only in the internal projected identity of the FBDO but also on perceptions of that identity in the community, highlighting the role context plays in the formulation of faith identity and its impact. Secondly, the paper argues that FBDOs …
Rameses II reporting standards for realist evaluations
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 international group of experts in realist evaluation to ou…
Using realist action research for service redesign
This case demonstrates the integration of realist action research and co-design to address the complex social problem of long-term reliance on welfare benefits. Realist action research combines a realist philosophy of science and the questions that flow from it with an action research cycle. Realist approaches to evaluation and planning seek to explain for whom in what contexts and how impacts are generated or might be generated. Action research …
Rameses publication standards
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in realist synthesis as an alternative systematic review method. This approach offers the potential to expand the knowledge base in policy-relevant areas - for example, by explaining the success, failure or mixed fortunes of complex interventions. No previous publication standards exist for reporting realist syntheses. This standard was developed as part of the RAMESES (Realist And MEta-narrative Evidence Syn…
Rameses publication standards
Developing complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation
This is the second of a two part article examining the use of complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation. The first article ( Evaluation 18[4]) introduced the idea of complexity-consistent theory. It argued that complexity-consistent theories are likely to be useful for understanding complex processes of change and therefore useful in many kinds of evaluation. Further, it argued that theories can be organized within a hierarchy to re…
Realist RCTs of complex interventions - An oxymoron
Using complexity-consistent theory for evaluating complex systems
This article draws on two recent traditions in evaluation methodology, one grounded in complexity theory and the other in a realist philosophy of science. Sometimes seen as incompatible, it is argued here that complexity theory and realist evaluation are ‘natural bedfellows’. Because of their similarities and differences, evaluators can usefully draw on both perspectives within the same evaluation. One way to do so is to draw on key concepts from…
To do, but what to do? The occupation of occupational science
Using complexity-consistent theory for evaluating complex systems
This article draws on two recent traditions in evaluation methodology, one grounded in complexity theory and the other in a realist philosophy of science. Sometimes seen as incompatible, it is argued here that complexity theory and realist evaluation are ‘natural bedfellows’. Because of their similarities and differences, evaluators can usefully draw on both perspectives within the same evaluation. One way to do so is to draw on key concepts from…
Realist RCTs of complex interventions - An oxymoron
Developing complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation
This is the second of a two part article examining the use of complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation. The first article ( Evaluation 18[4]) introduced the idea of complexity-consistent theory. It argued that complexity-consistent theories are likely to be useful for understanding complex processes of change and therefore useful in many kinds of evaluation. Further, it argued that theories can be organized within a hierarchy to re…
Using realist action research for service redesign
This case demonstrates the integration of realist action research and co-design to address the complex social problem of long-term reliance on welfare benefits. Realist action research combines a realist philosophy of science and the questions that flow from it with an action research cycle. Realist approaches to evaluation and planning seek to explain for whom in what contexts and how impacts are generated or might be generated. Action research …
Using surveys in realist evaluation
Realist evaluation is a theory-based approach to evaluation which examines what works in what respects and to what extent, for whom, in what contexts and how. It focuses on identifying underlying mechanisms which cause outcomes and the contextual factors necessary for their operation. Despite realist evaluation being ‘agnostic’ about methods, qualitative approaches have been heavily favoured in practice. This paper argues that the use of surveys …
To do, but what to do? The occupation of occupational science
Using complexity-consistent theory for evaluating complex systems
This article draws on two recent traditions in evaluation methodology, one grounded in complexity theory and the other in a realist philosophy of science. Sometimes seen as incompatible, it is argued here that complexity theory and realist evaluation are ‘natural bedfellows’. Because of their similarities and differences, evaluators can usefully draw on both perspectives within the same evaluation. One way to do so is to draw on key concepts from…
Rameses publication standards
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in realist synthesis as an alternative systematic review method. This approach offers the potential to expand the knowledge base in policy-relevant areas - for example, by explaining the success, failure or mixed fortunes of complex interventions. No previous publication standards exist for reporting realist syntheses. This standard was developed as part of the RAMESES (Realist And MEta-narrative Evidence Syn…
Rameses publication standards
Developing complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation
This is the second of a two part article examining the use of complexity-consistent theory in a realist investigation. The first article ( Evaluation 18[4]) introduced the idea of complexity-consistent theory. It argued that complexity-consistent theories are likely to be useful for understanding complex processes of change and therefore useful in many kinds of evaluation. Further, it argued that theories can be organized within a hierarchy to re…
Realist RCTs of complex interventions - An oxymoron
Rameses II reporting standards for realist evaluations
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 international group of experts in realist evaluation to ou…
Using realist action research for service redesign
This case demonstrates the integration of realist action research and co-design to address the complex social problem of long-term reliance on welfare benefits. Realist action research combines a realist philosophy of science and the questions that flow from it with an action research cycle. Realist approaches to evaluation and planning seek to explain for whom in what contexts and how impacts are generated or might be generated. Action research …
A Potent Fuel? Faith Identity and Development Impact in World Vision Community Programming
This paper explores the role of faith identity on impact in development by looking at the programming of a major international faith‐based development organisation (FBDO). It argues that faith identity rests not only in the internal projected identity of the FBDO but also on perceptions of that identity in the community, highlighting the role context plays in the formulation of faith identity and its impact. Secondly, the paper argues that FBDOs …
Understanding sustainable outcomes in international development
Billions of dollars continue to be provided in foreign aid each year. However, few scholarly studies have examined whether the outcomes from foreign aid interventions are sustained after donor funding has ceased. This paper examines current approaches to assessing this issue before arguing that a realist evaluation approach is ideally suited to understand why and how sustained outcomes are—or are not—achieved. It contributes to the existing liter…
Impacts of child sponsorship communications
Child sponsorship programmes often seek to establish a personal relationship between a sponsor and child through the exchange of letters, photos, and sometimes gifts. This paper examines the impact of these activities using data from communities supported by World Vision in Georgia, Ethiopia, Peru, Senegal, and Sri Lanka. Findings indicate that some types of communications were associated with higher levels of psychosocial wellbeing. While findin…
Feasibility and desirability of a realist CMOC database
Central to realist evaluation is its focus on underlying generative mechanisms that cause outcomes in particular contexts, often presented as context–mechanism–outcome configurations. The first author brought together 22 realist evaluation experts in a Delphi technique-inspired exercise to explore the potential of creating a database from context–mechanism–outcome configurations identified in the empirical literature, to enhance learning about wh…
Using surveys in realist evaluation
Realist evaluation is a theory-based approach to evaluation which examines what works in what respects and to what extent, for whom, in what contexts and how. It focuses on identifying underlying mechanisms which cause outcomes and the contextual factors necessary for their operation. Despite realist evaluation being ‘agnostic’ about methods, qualitative approaches have been heavily favoured in practice. This paper argues that the use of surveys …
Realist Needs Assessment Investigating the Factors Affecting Implementation of Guideline-Based Care for Chronic Pain in Rural Australia
We developed a realist program theory describing factors that affect healthcare professionals' delivery of guideline-based pain care in rural Australia as part of a realist-informed needs assessment. To our knowledge, this project is the first to apply a realist research approach to conducting a needs assessment. We conducted and analysed realist informed teacher-learner cycle interviews with rural healthcare professionals to inform our program t…
Developing initial programme theory for realist economic evaluation
It is increasingly recognised that ‘big problems’ in health and social care require well-designed solutions and robust evaluation, including attention to costs as well as outcomes. This is especially important in the pervasive environment of resource scarcity. Decisions need to be made that consider not only whether and how an intervention works but also affordability and efficiency in different circumstances and populations. As researchers tackl…
Bringing together realist and economic approaches in the evaluation of health and social care interventions
BACKGROUND: In the evaluation of complex interventions, economic evaluations aim to determine the relative cost-effectiveness of interventions but generate little explanation of how or why contexts and underlying causal mechanisms impact this. Conversely, realist approaches aim to explain 'what works, for whom, in which circumstances and why' but rarely capture the economic costs and consequences of interventions. As a result, many evaluations re…
Psychology (8 obras) · Sociology (8 obras) · Epistemology (7 obras) · Evaluation and Performance Assessment (7 obras) · Health Policy Implementation Science (5 obras) · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life (5 obras) · Philosophy (5 obras) · Political science (5 obras) · Advanced Causal Inference Techniques (4 obras) · Computer Science (4 obras)