Testing Middle Range Theories in Realist Evaluation: A Case of a Participatory Organisational Intervention

Details

• Personal Author:
  Axtell C ; Nielsen K ; Peters SE ; Roodbari H ; Sorensen, Glorian
• Description:
  Purpose: Realist evaluation seeks to answer the question of "what works for whom in which circumstances?" through developing and testing middle range theories (MRTs). MRTs are programme theories that outline how certain mechanisms of an intervention work in a specific context to bring about certain outcomes. In this paper, the authors tested an initial MRT about the mechanism of participation. The authors used evidence from a participatory organisational intervention in five worksites of a large multi-national organisation in the US food service industry. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data from 89 process tracking documents and 24 post-intervention, semi-structured interviews with intervention stakeholders were analysed using template analysis. Findings: The operationalised mechanism was partial worksite managers' engagement with the research team. Six contextual factors (e.g. high workload) impaired participation, and one contextual factor (i.e. existing participatory practices) facilitated participation. Worksite managers' participation resulted in limited improvement in their awareness of how working conditions can impact on their employees' safety, health, and well-being. Based on these findings, the authors modified the initial MRT into an empirical MRT. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the understanding of "what works for whom in which circumstances" regarding participation in organisational interventions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Food Handling Food Industry Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Food Service Food Services Intervention Effectiveness Mental Health Occupational Health Organisational Interventions Psychosocial Factors Qualitative Analysis Realist Evaluation Total Worker Health TWH Work Environment Work Organization

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• ISSN:
  1753-8351
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067879
• Citation:
  Int J Workplace Health Manag 2022 Oct; 15(6):694-710
• Contact Point Address:
  Hamid Roodbari, Sheffield University Management School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
• Email:
  h.roodbari@sheffield.ac.uk
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Performing Organization:
  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20160801
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Workplace Health Management
• End Date:
  20200731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:177d31e5a2fdc2c90f02a3015be4361c91efe31c5720fb6ab5de5e0f69d2b4836079a3386b9440fcd93ebf174b19055a2453bbc79a2a55ce94bee5beb1507076
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230118/cdc_230118_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.08 MB ]