Presentation for Nottingham Realism Group on the 12th October 2020

Unlike a literature search supporting a conventional systematic review, the realist search is multi-phased and iterative. It also requires different sources and techniques at different stages.

Dr Andrew Booth, from the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield, is a review methodologist and information specialist who focuses on realist synthesis. Andrew, will be a friendly navigator to take participants through the six stages of the realist search as defined by himself with experienced information colleagues.

These six stages map to the Pawson Time and Task Template and can be useful for those undertaking a full realist synthesis, those conducting a realist evaluation against a literature "backdrop" and those pursuing a hybrid evaluation/synthesis. Throughout the presentation the techniques and sources will be illustrated from over a dozen realist synthesis projects in which he has directly participated and from current practice elsewhere.