A Realist Evaluation of Autism ServiCe Delivery (RE-ASCeD)

In-depth exploration of individual service models will be carried out to determine the interrelationship of context, intervention, mechanisms and outcomes as they occur in their natural setting. Data will be gathered within case studies using mixed methods at two levels: (i) service model and (ii) individual child/ family. Methods will include semi structured realist Interviews, focus groups, and document reviews to assemble a comprehensive description of the service and model. Interviewees will include commissioners, service managers, clinicians, referrers, parents and young people. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed, proceeding to qualitative analysis based on components of the programme theory. Regular team meetings will discuss coding, address inconsistencies, and refine collective understanding of coding framework. Coded data will be collated using NVivo software.