The 13th Annual CARES Summer School for Realist Methodology Training is a two-week online event to train researchers, evaluators, commissioners, students and others in the principles and practice of realist methodology. The application of realist methodology to research and evaluation requires capacity development. For many, collective effort and co-learning is fundamental to developing an inspired view for undertaking this approach. Through active engagement during the summer school, participants will:

• explore if realist methodology is a right fit for their research scope and needs;

• identify/address/overcome research design challenges;

• develop programme/middle range theories and context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations;

• receive individualized consultation feedback by facilitators;

• have the opportunity to present work in progress;

• gain exposure to a diversity of projects and share knowledge;

• have time between sessions for data immersion and writing;

• network and collaborate online in a growing community of practice for realist inquiry;

• become comfortable crossing the boundary of observable-level theorizing and collectively theorize deeper aspects of reality in complex research areas.

The training takes place using three modalities: didactic training sessions; one-to-one consultations; and email support. Over the course of the two-weeks, participants will have the opportunity to receive individualized attention on their projects where they may talk through research design issues, show work-in-progress analyses and receive feedback.

Facilitators

Justin Jagosh is a Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England and Director for the Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES). He is a full-time mentor, trainer and consultant in the realist approach and currently working on numerous realist projects. Previously he served as a co-investigator on the NIHR funded RAMESES II project to develop quality guidelines and reporting standards for Realist Evaluation.

Kevin Harris is a Associate Professor at Hartpury University in the UK with a focus on realist evaluation in health and social change programmes. He is passionate about building capacity for realist methodology with practitioners in programme settings and to that end is involved in a number of commissioned evaluations utilizing realist methodology in conjunction with additional approaches. 

Rebecca Hunter is an Assistant Professor in Health and Social Care Evaluation and a member of the UK National Evaluation Team (IDEAS) at Northumbria University. As a physiotherapist specialising in chronic pain, she turned to realist methodology to make sense of why complex interventions work, or don't, in real-world settings. Her research focuses on digital health, back pain, and shifting workplace culture around chronic pain to support people to stay in and return to work. Rebecca is also working on advances in realist methodology.

Programme

Part I - Didactic Training Sessions: Participants will attend five 3-hour didactic training sessions over the course of the nine day programme. These sessions will introduce basic realist concepts and progressively explain how to conduct a project using realist methodology across all stages of research.

Part II - One-to-One Consultations: Over the course of the training participants can schedule 20-minute one-on-one consultations with the facilitators. The sessions are open-group and participants may attend others’ sessions to further co-learning and collaboration. This is advantageous for gleaning realist methodology principles from practical and conceptual challenges in application and finding common points of connection for peer support.

Part III - Email Support: Between sessions and across all days of the training, participants are invited to send questions and work-in-progress to facilitators by email for further support. Questions may be answered by facilitators by email response or taken to the subsequent didactic sessions for group discussion and learning.

Didactic Training Schedule

*PLEASE NOTE*: All times are listed in British Summer Time (BST)
Please be sure to convert for your local time zone.

For your convenience, time zone conversion calculator can be found here: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html)

Module A: Fundamental Principles of Realist Methodology
August 3rd, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Module B: Programme Theories & CMO Configurations
August 4th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Module C: How to Collect Realist Data
August 6th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Module D: How to Analyze Realist Data
August 10th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Module E: Advanced Tips for Conducting a Realist Evaluation or Synthesis
August 13th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

One-to-One Consultations, Peer Mentorship and Hot Topics

Session 1: August 5th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Session 2: August 7th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Session 3: August 11th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Session 4: August 12th, 2026, 8:00am - 11:00am (BST)

Schedule of consultations will be made available on days one and two of the summer school.

Fee

Professional: £695 Early Bird* (£795 Regular)
Student: £550 Early Bird* (£650 Regular)
(Students must have full time student status)

*Early Bird ends July 3rd, 2026

Refund policy:

50% Until (and including) July 3rd, 2026
0% After July 3rd, 2026

For administrative queries please contact Robyn at: admin@realistmethodology-cares.org