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Critical realism, as a toolkit of practical ideas, helps researchers to extend and clarify their analyses. It resolves problems arising from splits between different research approaches, builds on the strengths of different methods and overcomes their individual limitations.
This original text draws on international examples of health and illness research across the life course, from small studies to large trials, to show how versatile critical realism can be in validating research and connecting it to policy and practice.
To meet growing demand from students and researchers, this book is based on the course at UCL, first taught by Roy Bhaskar, the founder of critical realism.

Critical Realism for Health and Illness Research: A Practical Introduction

Introduction

Rethinking theories: the basis of practical research and problems with paradigms

Basic critical realist concepts

Structure and agency: making connections

Health and illness research: value-free or value-laden?

Four planes of social being: more connections

Researching transformative change over time

The point is to change it: connecting research to policy and practice