What can we learn from reviews of realist evaluation studies? Principles for rigorous realist evaluation

The realist evaluation approach has become firmly established within the field of evaluation. Reflecting its sustained and increasing uptake across diverse fields, a growing number of reviews have, over the years, examined practical applications of realist evaluations. Drawing on an umbrella review of 23 published reviews of realist evaluations, this article takes stock of key challenges in realist evaluation and proposes practical principles for addressing them. The proposed principles are designed to promote greater methodological congruence, coherence and transparency in the design and implementation of future realist evaluations.