Clarifying the role of belief-motive explanations in multi-stakeholder realist evaluation |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW, 2751, Australia;2. School of Business, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW, 2751, Australia;3. School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, 25A Barker Rd., Strathfield, NSW, Australia;1. Texas A&M University, College of Education and Human Development, Department of Health and Kinesiology, MS 4243, College Station, TX 77843-4243, United States;2. Baylor University, College of Health and Human Sciences, Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, One Bear Place #97343, Waco, TX 76798, United States;3. Baylor University, Division of Student Life, One Bear Place #97016, Waco, TX 76798, United States;1. School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, No. 2 South Taibai Street, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, PR China;2. Shaanxi Xi ''an Yanta District, Shida Road, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, PR China;1. Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida, 213 Rolfs Hall, PO Box 110540, 32611, Gainesville, FL, United States;2. University of Florida. 218 Rolfs Hall, PO Box 110540, 32611 Gainesville, FL, United States;3. University of Florida. 3028B McCarty Hall D, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States;4. University of Florida. 113C Bryant Hall, PO Box 112060, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States |
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| Abstract: | In realist evaluation, where researchers aim to make program theories explicit, they can encounter competing explanations as to how programs work. Managing explanatory tensions from different sources of evidence in multi-stakeholder projects can challenge external evaluators, especially when access to pertinent data, like client records, is mediated by program stakeholders. In this article, we consider two central questions: how can program stakeholder motives shape a realist evaluation project; and how might realist evaluators respond to stakeholders’ belief-motive explanations, including those about program effectiveness, based on factors such as supererogatory commitment or trying together in good faith? Drawing on our realist evaluation of a service reform initiative involving multiple agencies, we describe stakeholder motives at key phases, highlighting a need for tactics and skills that help to manage explanatory tensions. In conclusion, the relevance of stakeholders’ belief-motive explanations (‘we believe the program works’) in realist evaluation is clarified and discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Realist evaluation Research on evaluation Multi-stakeholder collaboration Stakeholder resistance |
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