Overview
This microcredential introduces methods in realist review (the realist approach to synthesis of existing literature and evidence) and explains their grounding in a realist philosophy of science. Students practice skills in scoping a realist review, developing program theory to guide the review, developing a realist search strategy for evidence, extracting evidence from literature, and synthesising findings. International reporting and quality standards for realist review will be used for self-assessment and as a tool for instructor feedback.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the implications of a realist approach for the tasks necessary to undertake a realist literature review.
- Formulate an overarching and subsidiary questions for a realist literature review.
- Develop an initial tentative theory explaining how a selected policy or program is expected to operate, or for a realist research or evaluation question.
- Create and justify a realist literature search strategy.
- Create and trial a coding framework for a realist literature review.
Assessment overview
| Assessment task | Value (of total mark) | Related learning outcome/s |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly assignment 1: Draft the overarching question for a realist review (either your own realist review or a review that could be done to inform your realist evaluation). Draft initial realist theory for that review question. | 10% |
|
| Weekly assignment 2: Draft subsidiary questions for the review question submitted in Week 1. Draft a realist literature search strategy for the realist theory submitted in Week 1. | 10% |
|
| Weekly assignment 3: Using NVivo or MaxQDA*, set up a coding framework for the review question and initial program theory submitted in Week 1 and code one article. Export the coding framework and the coded article for assessment*CDU provides Nvivo for post-grad students. Both Nvivo and MaxQDA provide free trial versions for 14 days, which will be adequate for the Week 3 assignment and the final assessment. | 10% |
|
| Final written assessment: 1000-1500 words. Using feedback from the first three assessment tasks, provide a brief rationale for conducting the literature review, a brief rationale for using a realist approach, revised overview and subsidiary questions, initial realist theory, search strategy and coding framework for a realist literature review. Include reflections on what you have learned about literature review in your conclusion. | 70% |
|
Availability options
OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.