AWRC Voices: NELP Welcome Dr Rebecca Hunter for Realist Collaboration
Thomas Harper is a Researcher at Sheffield Hallam University focusing on place support for the North East Cluster.
Earlier this month, the team at the National Evaluation and Learning Partnership (NELP) hosted Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, Dr Rebecca Hunter from Northumbria University at Sheffield Hallam University. Rebecca made the trip to South Yorkshire to continue explore opportunities for collaboration with Dr Katie Shearn and the NELP team.
Rebecca’s work is grounded in theory-led evaluation. Her current projects include a mixed-methods Realist Economic Evaluation (REE)of a digital self-management app for low back pain and developing the initial programme theory for the Flippin’ Pain in the Workplace evaluation, which aims to tackle workplace cultures around persistent musculoskeletal pain. Rebecca leads the NoRTH (Norther Realist Research Team Hub) and, as part of the IDEAS National Evaluation Team, is contributing to the national evaluation of NHS England’s Neighbourhood Health Plan.
Realist Collaboration
On Monday, Bex shared her recent work on Back mApp, illustrating the first three phases of a REE evaluating the getUBetter app within Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust MSK Community Services. NELP Research Fellow Dr Harriet Wingfield said: ‘As a novel evaluation approach, it was interesting for the team to hear Bex talk through the stages of undertaking a REE. As well as opening our minds to this approach, it was useful to ask questions as a critical friend and share some of our ideas about complexity sensitive methods. We were able to talk in depth about the Configurational Comparative Analysis (CCA) method and show Bex the EvalC3 tool.’
On Wednesday, Bex and the NELP team spent time exploring the initial programme theory development for the Neighbourhood Health Service evaluation. Bex presented the team’s emerging thinking and found the discussion invaluable, drawing not only on the crossover with NELP’s own work but also on the wealth of experience individuals brought from years of working across other evaluations. The insights shared helped to sense-check ideas and open up new ways of thinking about where the theory goes next.
On Thursday, the team came together to focus on project outputs during their monthly writing retreat which took place this time at Langsett. An additional celebration of Dr Katie Shearn’s recent appointment as Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) topped off a productive day of team working at City Campus.
Katie added: ‘It has been great to welcome Bex to SHU this week. We had started some valuable conversations earlier this year in Newcastle and to continuing that collaborative effort here in Sheffield with the wider participation of the NELP team has been very beneficial.’
Rebecca noted: ‘It was brilliant to spend time with Katie and the team this week. There is so much crossover in what we are doing, and it is invaluable to have the space to share learning, think out loud, and work through where the research goes next. NELP is a very special team; warm and generous with their time, and brilliant at creating a space where you feel comfortable to explore ideas.’
More information on Rebecca’s work
More information on the National Evaluation and Learning Partnership
More information on the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC)