Action research and Realist enquiry, when are they one and the same and why does it matter?

The paper presented here will discuss how action research and realist enquiry share some of the same premises and goals and how as methodologies they are useful, though challenging, to use in public health research. ... [ view full abstract ]

The paper presented here will discuss how action research and realist enquiry share some of the same premises and goals and how as methodologies they are useful, though challenging, to use in public health research.

Drawing on my own experience of conducting applied health research in the NHS and academia and using examples of projects, both action research and realist, I will unpick how the attention to mechanisms and levels of abstraction hold the key to evidence based practice for health improvement. Projects include a workplace intervention for cardiovascular health promotion; a literature review of diabetes care and older people; and a study of end of life kidney care. The usefulness of action research and realist enquiry in exploratory early stage research is described, as are the challenges and advantages of these methodologies early in the research trajectory.

The overarching themes of equity and cultural intelligence run through this paper and I relate these to the application of realist and action research to policy and practice. As to why the methodological specifics matter, I give a brief account of some of the common barriers and misconceptions associated with both. Finally I conclude that for population and individual health to benefit directly from research a public health workforce which is equipped to facilitate research and understand mechanisms alongside outcomes is a necessity.