Dear Isabel,

Great question and I agree with what has been said already by Ana and Kevin.  I see Developmental Evaluation and RE as very compatible. DE has an emphasis on "responsiveness" such that the on-going evaluation offers real-time feedback for correction, improvement even radical transformation. This emphasis implicates and incorporates context into the assessment quite logically. So the point made about the utilization focus of DE resonates because developing programs out of a responsiveness to context and existing implementation experience is about 'use and functionality'. The point made about how DE emphasizes collaborative inquiry also resonates because the feedback loop needed to accomplish the goals of a responsive developmental evaluation functions best when there is equitable, respectful partnership among the stakeholders across the planning and implementation chain. 

Realist Evaluation is complimentary to the responsiveness agenda because applying the concepts of generative causation, ontological depth, middle-range theory, retroductive theorizing, demi-regularity, mechanisms, and context-mechanism interaction  supports the determination of causation which in turn  provides a foundation for programme innovation and responsiveness  - key objectives in DE.

In terms of the question raised about the extent to which DE and RE share the same epistemological position - I would say that both approaches have distance from an evidence-based orthodoxy which is perhaps one way of describing their commonality.
 
and how would you describe the epistemological position of DE? 

best wishes,
Justin

  
Justin Jagosh, Ph.D
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES)
University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
www.liverpool.ac.uk/cares



________________________________________
From: Maria Isabel Loureiro [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: March 31, 2017 9:15
To: Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving              Standards; Jagosh, Justin
Subject: RE: CARES Update: April 2017 realist methodology workshops

Dear Justin and all,
Thank you for all the opportunities you have created to disseminate realist evaluation.
I am wondering which differences exist between realist evaluation and developmental evaluation or if the concept is the same. I know the "formula" of RE is CMO but epistemologically isn't it the same as DE?
Can you help me with this issue?

Thanks in advance. I really would appreciate your input.

All the best
Isabel

............................................................
Maria Isabel G. Loureiro, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Professora Catedrática de Saúde Pública/ Promoção da Saúde
Professor of Public Health/Health Promotion
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Av. Padre Cruz
1600-560 Lisboa
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 21.7512151/2  Fax: 21.7582754


-----Original Message-----
From: Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jagosh, Justin
Sent: segunda-feira, 20 de Março de 2017 07:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CARES Update: April 2017 realist methodology workshops

Dear Colleagues,


Registration is now open for 3 upcoming CARES workshops in April. Attached is a flier with details.

To register please visit www.realistmethodology-cares.org and do feel free to get in touch if you have questions.


sincerely,
Justin


Justin Jagosh, Ph.D
Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES) University of Liverpool, United Kingdom www.liverpool.ac.uk/cares