What doesn’t work, for whom and why in, “Let’s get realistic: why ‘what works’ will probably not work in evaluative sport research””: a response to Haudenhuyse and Debognies (2022)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper provides a short response to the critique of realist evaluation written by Haudenhuyse and Debognies in 2022 in the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. No doubt experienced realist evaluators will have already made a wry judgement on the perspicacity of their opinions. However, new researchers and evaluation commissioners newly considering a realist approach may be dismayed by what they read.