Constructing Excellent Initial Programme Theories-Online
February 13th-14th & 17th-18th, 2025

This four-day workshop is designed to help participants construct excellent ‘initial programme theories’ (IPTs) for projects using realist methodology. An IPT is a causal statement about a programme’s strategy and is often shaped as an ‘if…then’ formulation. Developing capacity for initial programme theorizing is fundamental to realist inquiry in terms of protocol development, data collection and analysis.

• Learn to differentiate between poorly and well articulated generative causal theory statements;

• Gain understanding of the difference between generative versus successionist causal statements;

• Develop rival theories to improve objectivity;

• Practice constructing initial programme theories in line with the realist principle of retroduction;

• Construct initial programme theories suitable for testing against empirical evidence;

• Explore how to use middle-range theories in the process of initial programme theorizing.

This workshop has no prerequisites and is particularly suited to people who are in the early stages of a realist evaluation or synthesis. Participants will receive individualized feedback on the construction of their work-in-progress initial programme theories.

*PLEASE NOTE*: All times are listed in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Please be sure to convert for your local zone.

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

Four 3-Hour Modules/Dates and Times:

Module A: Constructing Excellent Initial Programme Theories: part I
February 13th, 2025
8:00am - 11:00am (GMT)

Module B: Constructing Excellent Initial Programme Theories: part II
February 14th, 2025
8:00am - 11:00am (GMT)

Module C: Constructing Excellent Initial Programme Theories: part III
February 17th, 2025
8:00am - 11:00am (GMT)

Module D: Constructing Excellent Initial Programme Theories: part IV
February 18th, 2025
8:00am - 11:00am (GMT)

Fee:

Professional: £380 Early Bird** (£480 Regular)
Student: £320 Early Bird** (£380 Regular)
(*Students must have full time student status)

**Early bird ends January 13th, 2025

Refund policy:

50% Until (and including) January 13th, 2025
0% After January 13th, 2025

This workshop is available for ‘in house’ delivery for groups of up to 15 participants. 
Please contact Justin Jagosh at j.jagosh@realistmethodology-cares.org for more detail. 

For queries regarding the workshop please contact: j.jagosh@realistmethodology-cares.org
For administrative queries please contact Robyn at: admin@realistmethodology-cares.org