In this article, we present an exemplar of the initial theory-building phase of theory-driven evaluation for the PARTNERS2 project, a collaborative care intervention for people with experience of psychosis in England. Initial theory-building involved analysis of the literature, interviews with key leaders and focus groups with service users. The initial programme theory was developed from these sources in an iterative process between researchers and stakeholders (service users, practitioners, commissioners) involving four activities: articulation of 442 explanatory statements systematically developed using realist methods; debate and consensus; communication; and interrogation. We refute two criticisms of theory-driven evaluation of complex interventions. We demonstrate how the process of initial theory-building made a meaningful contribution to our complex intervention in five ways. Although time-consuming, it allowed us to develop an internally coherent and well-documented intervention. This study and the lessons learnt provide a detailed resource for other researchers wishing to build theory for theory-driven evaluation.

中文翻译：

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初始理论构建的一个工作示例：PARTNERS2 为在英格兰经历过精神病的人提供的协作护理

在本文中，我们展示了 PARTNERS2 项目理论驱动评估的初始理论构建阶段的示例，该项目是针对英国精神病患者的协作护理干预。最初的理论构建涉及文献分析、与主要领导者的访谈以及与服务用户的焦点小组的访谈。最初的计划理论是在研究人员和利益相关者（服务用户、从业人员、专员）之间的迭代过程中从这些来源发展而来的，涉及四项活动： 阐明使用现实主义方法系统开发的 442 条解释性陈述；辩论和共识；沟通; 和审讯。我们驳斥了对复杂干预的理论驱动评估的两种批评。我们展示了最初的理论构建过程如何以五种方式对我们的复杂干预做出有意义的贡献。尽管很耗时，但它使我们能够开发出内部连贯且有据可查的干预措施。这项研究和吸取的经验教训为希望为理论驱动的评估建立理论的其他研究人员提供了详细的资源。