Mid-range Theory Research Articles

Agency and structure in regional development: in search of a social science research programme

ABSTRACT As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and the source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as the backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.

Individual interventions, collective lessons: Developing mid-range theory on women's groups to improve health.

Interventions with women's groups have been widely implemented to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income settings, particularly India. While there is a large evidence base on the effectiveness of single interventions, it is challenging to predict whether a women's group intervention delivered in one setting can be expected to work in another. We applied realist principles to develop and refine a mid-range theory on the effectiveness of women's groups interventions, summarised key lessons for implementation, and reflected on the process. We synthesised primary data from several interventions in India, a systematic review, and an analysis of behaviour change techniques. We developed mid-range theories across three areas: maternal and newborn health, nutrition, and violence against women, as well as an overarching mid-range theory on how women's groups can improve health. Our overarching mid-range theory suggested that effective interventions should: build group or community capabilities; focus on health outcomes relevant to group members; and approach health issues modifiable through women's individual or collective actions. We identified four key lessons for future interventions with women's groups, including the importance of skilled and remunerated facilitation, sufficient intensity, supply-side strengthening, and the need to adapt delivery during scale up while maintaining fidelity to intervention theory. Our experience demonstrated the feasibility of developing mid-range theory from a combination of evidence and insights from practice. It also underscored the importance of community engagement and ongoing research to 'thicken' mid-range theories to design effective and scalable women's groups interventions in India and similar settings.

Understanding the processes underpinning IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine (IMP2ART) in primary care: study protocol for a process evaluation within a cluster randomised controlled implementation trial

BackgroundProviding supported self-management for people with asthma can reduce the burden on patients, health services and wider society. Implementation, however, remains poor in routine clinical practice. IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine (IMP2ART) is a UK-wide cluster randomised implementation trial that aims to test the impact of a whole-systems implementation strategy, embedding supported asthma self-management in primary care compared with usual care. To maximise opportunities for sustainable implementation beyond the trial, it is necessary to understand how and why the IMP2ART trial achieved its clinical and implementation outcomes.MethodsA mixed-methods process evaluation nested within the IMP2ART trial will be undertaken to understand how supported self-management was implemented (or not) by primary care practices, to aid interpretation of trial findings and to inform scaling up and sustainability. Data and analysis strategies have been informed by mid-range and programme-level theory. Quantitative data will be collected across all practices to describe practice context, IMP2ART delivery (including fidelity and adaption) and practice response. Case studies undertaken in three to six sites, supplemented by additional interviews with practice staff and stakeholders, will be undertaken to gain an in-depth understanding of the interaction of practice context, delivery, and response. Synthesis, informed by theory, will combine analyses of both qualitative and quantitative data. Finally, implications for the scale up of asthma self-management implementation strategies to other practices in the UK will be explored through workshops with stakeholders.DiscussionThis mixed-methods, theoretically informed, process evaluation seeks to provide insights into the delivery and response to a whole-systems approach to the implementation of supported self-management in asthma care in primary care. It is underway at a time of significant change in primary care in the UK. The methods have, therefore, been developed to be adaptable to this changing context and to capture the impact of these changes on the delivery and response to research and implementation processes.

Relazioni pubbliche: pars communicans della «sociologia pubblica»?

The contribution seeks to position public relations (PR) as a communicative component of public sociology (PS), tracing the evolution of PR from its inception to the modern-day constructs that form its theoretical foundation and practical activities. It argues that concepts such as stakeholder, relationship, and reputation are not merely central to PR but also intricately intertwined and utilized within the realm of sociological inquiry. The paper underscores the societal impact of PR, especially emphasizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social campaigns. These efforts aim to propagate specific issues, cultivate a collective awareness, and ultimately provoke transformation in social attitudes and behaviors. A notable tension exists within PR between empirical practices and scientific precision, drawing attention to the need for interdisciplinary strategies and mid-range theories to bridge this gap. PR, while not exclusively, is primarily situated within the social sciences and, more specifically, within the Sociology of Cultural Processes as an academic discipline. This article calls for a deeper integration between PR and PS, advocating for the use of shared concepts, categories, methods, and tools. Additionally, PR targets the identification of distinct publics and the initiation of active, participatory dialogue with them. Although the predominant literature and major journals in PR are American, the article acknowledges that PR’s application on local grounds is where the synthesis of local and global takes place, demonstrating the field’s wide-reaching relevance and adaptability.

Discovering why people believe disinformation about healthcare.

Disinformation-false information intended to cause harm or for profit-is pervasive. While disinformation exists in several domains, one area with great potential for personal harm from disinformation is healthcare. The amount of disinformation about health issues on social media has grown dramatically over the past several years, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study described in this paper sought to determine the characteristics of multimedia social network posts that lead them to believe and potentially act on healthcare disinformation. The study was conducted in a neuroscience laboratory in early 2022. Twenty-six study participants each viewed a series of 20 either honest or dishonest social media posts, dealing with various aspects of healthcare. They were asked to determine if the posts were true or false and then to provide the reasoning behind their choices. Participant gaze was captured through eye tracking technology and investigated through "area of interest" analysis. This approach has the potential to discover the elements of disinformation that help convince the viewer a given post is true. Participants detected the true nature of the posts they were exposed to 69% of the time. Overall, the source of the post, whether its claims seemed reasonable, and the look and feel of the post were the most important reasons they cited for determining whether it was true or false. Based on the eye tracking data collected, the factors most associated with successfully detecting disinformation were the total number of fixations on key words and the total number of revisits to source information. The findings suggest the outlines of generalizations about why people believe online disinformation, suggesting a basis for the development of mid-range theory.

'Moving on' for Adults With a Learning Disability and Their Families: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study.

Ending familial co-residence, termed 'moving on' by participants, is an increasingly relevant life transition for people with a learning disability due to increasing life expectancy and policy developments. Nevertheless, there is an absence of research exploring this transition experience in a United Kingdom (UK) context. This constructivist grounded theory study therefore aimed to explore, conceptualise, and theorise the 'moving on' experiences of adults with a learning disability and their families. This article reports the experiences of five adults with a learning disability and nine family members in England, UK. Narrative interviews and creative storybook methods were used to collect data between April 2015 and May 2016. Constant comparative methods, theoretical sampling, and memo writing were used throughout data collection and analysis. Participants with a learning disability presented personal growth and greater life fulfilment over the course of the transition; they flourished. In parallel, family members relinquished their care responsibilities. Importantly, the iterative and reciprocal relationship between flourishing and relinquishing shows that ongoing family member involvement is crucial during and following relocation. Family members identified factors that potentially inhibit relinquishing: pressure to 'let go', different perceptions of independence between family members and service providers, inadequate future investment, and rapport with professional carers. These novel insights led to the generation of the first known mid-range theory concerning this transition, entitled 'Moving on: flourishing and relinquishing'. Findings will guide future research in this field and facilitate the design of appropriate support for people with a learning disability and their families.

Mid-range theory of the nursing diagnosis Overweight.

To build a mid-range theory for the nursing diagnosis Overweight in adolescents and young adults. A methodological study in the light of the theoretical frameworks of Roy and of Lopes, Silva and Herdman. A total of 3,925 articles were retrieved and assessed using the State of the Art Through Systematic Review software. The final sample consisted of 28 articles. The findings converged to 3 essential attributes, 13 antecedents, and 7 consequences. A mid-range theory was built consisting of an illustrated diagram, 11 propositions, and 12 causal relationships. From the creation of the theory, it was possible to better understand the nursing diagnosis Overweight within the context of adolescents and young adults. Understanding nursing phenomena contributes to nursing science's advancement and strengthening.

The Influence of Context Factors on Cooperation in IS Integration Projects for Horizontal Mergers

IS integration projects for horizontal mergers of large organizations have received scant attention from IS researchers. This study addresses this shortcoming by collecting and analyzing Technology and Social integration process data during the integration planning and implementation phases of a multi-year IS integration project for the horizontal merger of two large competitors. Using a power-dependence perspective to interpret our findings, we develop a mid-range propositional theory to explain how and why organization-level context factors influenced the cooperative behaviors of legacy employees participating in horizontal mergers and the success of IS integration processes.

Understanding Well-Being in High-Performance Coaches: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore, in depth, well-being within the unique context of high-performance sports coaching. The aim was to capture the process of well-being while considering the contextual nuances and influences of high-performance coaching environments in a mid-range theory of coaches’ well-being. Design: Constructivist grounded theory served as a guiding approach for data collection and analysis. Method: Individual interviews (n = 20) were conducted with methodological rigour enhanced by originality, usefulness, resonance, and credibility. Aligned with the methodology, we utilised theoretical sampling to aid the development of individual categories. Results: Findings suggest that well-being is an integrating process between coaches’ personal values (identity) and culturally prescribed values (identity), with a degree of harmony as the overall goal. Conclusion: The mid-range theory presents a contextually bound process of coaches’ well-being. It provides a more practical insight into the area and highlights the importance of cultural considerations and competencies.

A realist review of medication optimisation of community dwelling service users with serious mental illness

BackgroundSevere mental illness (SMI) incorporates schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, non-organic psychosis, personality disorder or any other severe and enduring mental health illness. Medication, particularly antipsychotics and mood stabilisers are the main...

Value co-destruction: Problems and solutions

AbstractThe concept of value co-creation (VCC) is central to service-dominant logic (SDL) and forms its second axiom, namely that “Value is cocreated by multiple actors, always including the beneficiary” (Vargo & Lusch, 2016, p.8). In parallel with the evolution of VCC in SDL, the term “value co-destruction” (VCD) has also emerged within the services and marketing literature (Echeverri & Skålén, 2011; Plé & Cáceres, 2010). Value co-destruction is pitched as a reverse concept to VCC—another side of the same coin (Plé, 2017)—capturing how interactions, practices, and resource integrations between actors might have negative impacts on value formation. Research on VCD has both expanded and fragmented (Echeverri & Skålén, 2021), but the concept has not been subject to the same scrutiny as VCC. In this article, we question the logic underpinning VCD conceptualization and problematize its use. We articulate three specific problems: first, the need to view VCC as a normative statement; second, a logical flaw in how VCD captures negative outcomes; and third, an issue with the “co” in co-destruction. We offer two solutions for researchers in this area: first, given that VCC is representative of a metatheory, we present mid-range theories as providing opportunities for exploring the role of valence in interactive service experiences; second, we identify literature that presents a continuum of contrasting negative and positive value outcomes.

Toward a Mid-Range Design Theory for Developing Pedagogically Effective Serious Games

ABSTRACT Serious games (SGs) represent promising digital learning tools. However, SG design frameworks frequently lack a comprehensive integration of pedagogical considerations, which might explain the observed variance in SG effectiveness. To address this research gap, we use a design science research approach to develop a mid-range design theory that translates pedagogy into SG design. We exemplify and empirically evaluate the application of our design theory with an SG designed for intercultural competency development with good results.

Life after digital displacement: analog entrepreneurship and the revitalization of legacy technologies

PurposeResearch at the interface of marketing and entrepreneurship has emphasized digital entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs pursue business opportunities centered on new technologies. However, a different type of entrepreneurship focused on opportunities involving consumers’ (re)adoption of displaced analog technologies when digital alternatives are dominant – analog entrepreneurship – is a trend and counter phenomenon to digital entrepreneurship that is receiving intense practitioner interest but limited scholarly attention. The purpose of this article is to present a theoretical framework that explains the role of analog entrepreneurship in technology revitalization.Design/methodology/approachIn this conceptual paper, the authors use the microfoundations perspective to develop a multilevel theory of analog entrepreneurship. The authors define and delineate the “analog entrepreneurship” concept and formulate a midrange theory explaining how entrepreneurs influence the reemergence of analog technologies.FindingsThe theory’s main insight is that the renewal of analog technologies is not confined to consumers. Entrepreneurs are creating businesses that stimulate demand for analog technologies. As a result of entrepreneurs’ activities, legacy analog technologies do not fade into nonexistence in the face of rival digital technologies.Originality/valueThe theory of analog entrepreneurship contributes to research at the intersection of entrepreneurship and marketing by expanding its focus to consider the entrepreneurs who revitalize displaced analog technologies when digital alternatives are dominant. The authors provide insight into the potential trajectories of technologies after their initial displacement and the role entrepreneurs play in shaping the late stages of technology lifecycles. The theory draws attention to an underexplored phenomenon made increasingly prevalent by recent technological disruptions and suggests an agenda for studying how entrepreneurs renew analog technologies.

Explanation of context, mechanisms and outcomes in adult community mental health crisis care: the MH-CREST realist evidence synthesis.

Mental health crises cause significant disruption to individuals and families and can be life-threatening. The large number of community crisis services operating in an inter-agency landscape complicates access to help. It is unclear which underpinning mechanisms of crisis care work, for whom and in which circumstances. The aim was to identify mechanisms to explain how, for whom and in what circumstances adult community crisis services work. The objectives were to develop, test and synthesise programme theories via (1) stakeholder expertise and current evidence; (2) a context, intervention, mechanism and outcome framework; (3) consultation with experts; (4) development of pen portraits; (5) synthesis and refinement of programme theories, including mid-range theory; and (6) identification and dissemination of mechanisms needed to trigger desired context-specific crisis outcomes. This study is a realist evidence synthesis, comprising (1) identification of initial programme theories; (2) prioritisation, testing and refinement of programme theories; (3) focused realist reviews of prioritised initial programme theories; and (4) synthesis to mid-range theory. The main outcome was to explain context, mechanisms and outcomes in adult community mental health crisis care. Data were sourced via academic and grey literature searches, expert stakeholder group consultations and 20 individual realist interviews with experts. A realist evidence synthesis with primary data was conducted to test and refine three initial programme theories: (1) urgent and accessible crisis care, (2) compassionate and therapeutic crisis care and (3) inter-agency working. Community crisis services operate best within an inter-agency system. This requires compassionate leadership and shared values that enable staff to be supported; retain their compassion; and, in turn, facilitate compassionate interventions for people in crisis. The complex interface between agencies is best managed through greater clarity at the boundaries of services, making referral and transition seamless and timely. This would facilitate ease of access and guaranteed responses that are trusted by the communities they serve. Strengths include the identification of mechanisms for effective inter-agency community crisis care and meaningful stakeholder consultation that grounded the theories in real-life experience. Limitations include the evidence being heavily weighted towards England and the review scope excluding full analysis of ethnic and cultural diversity. Multiple interpretations of crises and diverse population needs present challenges for improving the complex pathways to help in a crisis. Inter-agency working requires clear policy guidance with local commissioning. Seamless transitions between services generate trust through guaranteed responses and ease of navigation. This is best achieved where there is inter-agency affiliation that supports co-production. Compassionate leaders engender staff trust, and outcomes for people in crisis improve when staff are supported to retain their compassion. Further work might explore inter-agency models of crisis delivery, particularly in rural communities. Future work could focus on evaluating outcomes across crisis care provider agencies and include evaluation of individual, as well as service-level, outcomes. The implementation and effect of mental health triage could be explored further, including via telehealth. Barriers to access for marginalised populations warrant a specific focus in future research. The study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42019141680. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 11, No. 15. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Validity of nursing diagnoses/outcomes and interventions for people with heart failure

Objective: To validate the content of nursing diagnosis/outcome and intervention statements for the care of people with heart failure. Method: This is methodological study, according to the steps for building terminology subsets in Brazil. Survey conducted from 2019-2020. Statements and interventions were organized according to the mid-range theory for nursing in cardiovascular rehabilitation. Results: a total of 58 experts participated in the study. A total of 39 nursing diagnoses/outcomes and 168 interventions were validated. The statements with the highest agreement were related to rehabilitation care followed by the supervised cardiovascular rehabilitation program. Conclusion: The study validated the content of statements of a terminology subset for people with heart failure, and allowed the composition of a nursing language based on a classification system recognized worldwide.

The Limited Influence of Voluntary Environmental Partnerships on Increasing the Saliency of Freight Emissions in Corporate Sustainability Strategy

AbstractReducing greenhouse gas emissions in freight transportation is important for organizations. Transportation emissions are rapidly increasing in developing countries and are the second greatest source of emissions after electricity generation globally. Reducing freight transportation emissions is not a priority on the corporate sustainability agenda for many companies despite their significant impact on climate change. This research explores the paradox between the significant negative impact of freight transportation on climate change and its lack of saliency in corporate strategy using data from in-depth interviews with 12 organizations that are shipper members of SmartWay, a voluntary environmental partnership (VEP). Using mid-range theory (MRT) building beginning with legitimacy theory, this research explores how transportation functions and corporations measure and report freight transportation emissions reduction as part of the environmental sustainability agenda. The results provide insight into how an operationally focused VEP is challenged in gaining strategic organizational importance for its mission of freight emissions reduction and why the current approach of focusing on freight emission issues in transportation has limited traction.

Identifying factors needed for business actor engagement in sustainable development goal (SDG) initiatives

PurposeThis study aims to offer a mid-range theory conceptualization of factors central to understanding and facilitating business actor engagement (BAE). Reports on a study of real estate companies and their sustainable development goal (SDG) driven business initiatives. The aim is to identify the factors that need to be in place to facilitate positive engagement amongst actors in business-to-business (B2B) settings.Design/methodology/approachA case study of real estate companies (landlords of business premises) and their business customers (tenants of offices and warehouses) – comprising interviews and workshops – offer insights related to the factors that need to be in place to facilitate BAE types and outcomes.FindingsThe identified central factors of BAE – needed to understand and facilitate positive engagement to unfold – are the actors’ perception of: willingness (to act), resourcefulness (to contribute and solve issues) and influence (to affect decisions) regarding solutions related to the business initiative at hand. Failing to facilitate these factors may result in negative outcomes of BAE where “engagement” merely constitutes perceived obligations and responsibilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study offers theoretical and managerial insights on how to manage the factors needed for BAE. It also sheds light on how actors can use SDG-driven business initiatives to achieve sustainability goals.Originality/valueIt contributes to the concept of BAE, by emphasizing the dynamics of engagement, from the motivational and behavioral dimensions specific to B2B settings. It offers insights how to managerially cogovern rather than control BAE. It presents central factors needed to include and capacitate customers, facilitating successful implementations of SDG-driven business initiatives to reduce absent or negative outcomes.

Theory and explanation in geography revisited: Mid-range causal theories and explanatory conjuncturalism

This commentary takes on Jamie Peck’s conjunctural methodologies and reflects on the epistemological matter of theory and explanation in geography. Mapping onto several key elements of conjunctural analysis, I reframe its methodological examination in relation to mid-level concepts and theories (i.e. mid-range theory), the articulation of causality and causal co-determination (i.e. causal mechanisms), and situational analysis, historicisation, and thick theorisation as context-rich explanation (i.e. context-specificity). By way of a sympathetic critique, I focus on two potential ‘blind spots’ that might require further rethinking and perhaps remedies: the underdevelopment of practical adequacy and the role of normative theorising in conjunctural methodologies.

The iron cage of efficiency: analytics, basketball and the logic of modernity

Analytics, the application of advanced statistics to sport, has become increasingly prominent. This paper will focus on their application in basketball. I will argue that the introduction of analytics is an attempt to expand the logic of modernity into sport, an area which, for Elias, its demands had historically been temporarily suspended. Instead we can see some of the key tenets of analytics – which I will explore via reference to The Mid-Range Theory, a recent book promoting their use in basketball – as reproducing the modernist demand for control, order, prediction and efficiency. In turn, I will also explore how the critique of analytics reflects the critique of modernity, most notably in its attempt to disenchant the social world and create a new iron cage of efficiency. Therefore, the case of analytics in basketball shows us that what Wagner called modernity as interpretation still has significant social purchase.

Exploring the Relationship between Early Leaving of Education and Training and Mental Health among Youth in Spain

This study aimed to explore the relationship between Early Leaving Education and Training and mental health perceived by young Spanish school leavers, as well as develop mid-range theories to better understand this relationship. The study uses a grounded theory approach; specifically, Charmaz’s constructivist approach and its informed version have guided the study. Through qualitative interviews with individuals who had left school prematurely, the results of this study showed a bidirectional relationship between ELET and mental health, where the detriment in the mental health of young people who leave school early should be understood as both a cause and an effect of the process of ELET. In addition, the findings suggest that certain socio-economic and educational factors, such as bullying, academic stress, self-responsibilization of failure, and labels such as “NEET” can contribute to a decrease in mental health. Overall, this study has provided new insights into the ELET-mental health relationship, contributing to the development of mid-range theories that can inform future research and interventions to minimize these problems.