Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact
There is increasing attention on evidencing research impact and applying a systems thinking perspective in public health. However, there is limited understanding of the extent to which and how public health research that applies a systems thinking perspective contributes to changes in system behavio...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2023
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/97919 |
| _version_ | 1848766338616524800 |
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| author | Craike, M. Klepac, B. Mowle, Amy Riley, T. |
| author_facet | Craike, M. Klepac, B. Mowle, Amy Riley, T. |
| author_sort | Craike, M. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | There is increasing attention on evidencing research impact and applying a systems thinking perspective in public health. However, there is limited understanding of the extent to which and how public health research that applies a systems thinking perspective contributes to changes in system behaviour and improved population health outcomes. This paper addresses the theoretical limitations of research impact, theory-based evaluation and systems thinking, by drawing on their respective literature to develop an initial, middle-range Theory of Systems Change, focused on the contribution of public health research that takes a systems perspective on population health outcomes. The Theory of Systems Change was developed through four phases: (1) Preliminary activities, (2) Theory development, (3) Scripting into images, and (4) Examining against Merton’s criteria. The primary propositions are: that well-functioning systems create the conditions for improved population health outcomes; the inter-related properties of, and practices within, well-functioning systems include adaptation, alignment, collaboration and evidence-driven action and learning; and public health research contributes to population health outcomes by embedding capacity in the system. The Theory of Systems Change can guide researchers in developing project-specific theories of change and creates the theoretical architecture for the accumulation of learning. The Theory of Systems Change is necessarily incomplete and an initial attempt to develop a theory to be scrutinized and tested. Ultimately, it seeks to advance theory and provide evidence-based guidance to maximize the contribution of research. We provide examples of how we have applied the Theory of Systems Change to Pathways in Place. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:49:34Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-97919 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:49:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-979192025-07-16T03:29:53Z Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact Craike, M. Klepac, B. Mowle, Amy Riley, T. There is increasing attention on evidencing research impact and applying a systems thinking perspective in public health. However, there is limited understanding of the extent to which and how public health research that applies a systems thinking perspective contributes to changes in system behaviour and improved population health outcomes. This paper addresses the theoretical limitations of research impact, theory-based evaluation and systems thinking, by drawing on their respective literature to develop an initial, middle-range Theory of Systems Change, focused on the contribution of public health research that takes a systems perspective on population health outcomes. The Theory of Systems Change was developed through four phases: (1) Preliminary activities, (2) Theory development, (3) Scripting into images, and (4) Examining against Merton’s criteria. The primary propositions are: that well-functioning systems create the conditions for improved population health outcomes; the inter-related properties of, and practices within, well-functioning systems include adaptation, alignment, collaboration and evidence-driven action and learning; and public health research contributes to population health outcomes by embedding capacity in the system. The Theory of Systems Change can guide researchers in developing project-specific theories of change and creates the theoretical architecture for the accumulation of learning. The Theory of Systems Change is necessarily incomplete and an initial attempt to develop a theory to be scrutinized and tested. Ultimately, it seeks to advance theory and provide evidence-based guidance to maximize the contribution of research. We provide examples of how we have applied the Theory of Systems Change to Pathways in Place. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/97919 https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvad030 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Oxford University Press fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Craike, M. Klepac, B. Mowle, Amy Riley, T. Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title | Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title_full | Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title_fullStr | Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title_short | Theory of systems change: An initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| title_sort | theory of systems change: an initial, middle-range theory of public health research impact |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/97919 |