Critical Realism for Health and Illness Research: A Practical Introduction

Critical realism is a practical toolkit that helps researchers extend and clarify their analyses, overcoming problems arising from splits between different research approaches. It draws on international examples of health and illness research across the life course and is based on a course taught by Roy Bhaskar at UCL.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2021
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Critical realism, as a practical toolkit, empowers researchers to expand and refine their analytical approaches. By addressing issues arising from divergent research paradigms, it leverages the strengths of various methods while mitigating their individual limitations. This original text showcases international examples of health and illness research spanning the life course, encompassing small studies to large trials. It demonstrates the versatility of critical realism in validating research and bridging it to policy and practice. In response to the increasing demand from students and scholars, this book is grounded in the course taught by Roy Bhaskar, the visionary founder of critical realism.

Introduction:
Critical realism, as a philosophical and methodological framework, has gained significant traction in the social sciences and humanities. It offers a valuable toolkit for researchers seeking to extend and clarify their analyses. By embracing critical realism, scholars can address the challenges arising from the fragmented nature of research approaches and bridge the gaps between them. This approach not only builds upon the strengths of different methods but also overcomes their individual limitations, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena.

Problem-Solving Capabilities:
One of the key advantages of critical realism is its ability to resolve problems arising from the splits between different research paradigms. Researchers often face challenges when their findings are inconsistent or conflicting due to the inherent differences in their theoretical frameworks, methods, and data sources. Critical realism provides a framework that allows researchers to integrate and synthesize diverse perspectives, methodologies, and data sources, thus overcoming these divides. This integrative approach enables researchers to develop a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under study.

Building on Strengths and Overcoming Limitations:
Critical realism recognizes the inherent strengths of different research approaches and seeks to build upon them. It acknowledges that each method has its unique advantages and limitations and encourages researchers to leverage these strengths to enhance their analyses. By combining multiple methods, researchers can overcome the limitations of individual approaches and obtain a more holistic and accurate understanding of the phenomena. For instance, critical realism can be particularly useful in conducting qualitative research, which excels at capturing the nuanced and complex nature of human experiences and perspectives. At the same time, quantitative research, which relies on statistical analysis and measurement, can provide valuable insights into patterns and trends.

International Examples:
To illustrate the versatility of critical realism, this text draws on international examples of health and illness research across the life course. From small studies to large trials, critical realism has been employed to validate research findings and connect them to policy and practice. By examining diverse research contexts and methodologies, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of health and illness and develop evidence-based interventions that address the needs of different populations.

Course at UCL:
In response to the growing demand for critical realism, this book is based on the course taught at the University College London (UCL). The course, first taught by Roy Bhaskar, the founder of critical realism, aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of critical realism and its applications in social science research. The course covers various topics, including the philosophical foundations of critical realism, the theoretical framework, and the practical implications of critical realism in research.

Conclusion:
Critical realism, as a practical toolkit of ideas, empowers researchers to extend and clarify their analyses. By leveraging the strengths of different research approaches and overcoming their limitations, critical realism enables researchers to develop a more comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena. By drawing on international examples and providing a comprehensive course at UCL, this book aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in critical realism and its applications in social science research.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781447354567