%0 Journal Article
%T The art and science of non
%A Lorelei Jones
%J Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
%@ 1758-1060
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1355819618779614
%X This essay considers some limitations of programme theory evaluation in relation to healthcare policies. This approach, which seeks to surface ¡®programme theories¡¯ or construct ¡®logic models¡¯, is often unable to account for empirical observations of policy implementation in real-world contexts. I argue that this failure stems from insufficient theoretical elaboration of the social, cultural and political dimensions of healthcare policies. Drawing from institutional theory, critical theory and discourse theory, I set out an alternative agenda for policy research. I illustrate the issues with respect to programme theory evaluation with examples from my experience of research on large-scale strategic change in the English NHS
%K evaluation
%K implementation
%K policy research
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1355819618779614