We are delighted to announce our upcoming Symposium on the Future of Evaluation in Health and Social Care, hosted by Northumbria University.
The update of the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance outlining a new framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions, states that:
“complex intervention research goes beyond asking whether an intervention works in the sense of achieving its intended outcome—to asking a broader range of questions (e.g. identifying what other impact it has, assessing its value relative to the resources required to deliver it, theorising how it works, taking account of how it interacts with the context in which it is implemented, how it contributes to system change, and how the evidence can be used to support real world decision making)” [1, pg.1].
The framework divides complex intervention evaluation into four phases: development or identification of the intervention, feasibility, evaluation, and implementation. Within each of these, it outlines six core elements to be considered when answering the following questions: 1) how does the intervention interact with its context? 2) what is the underpinning programme theory? 3) how can diverse stakeholder perspectives be included in the research? 4) what are the main uncertainties? 5) how can the intervention be refined? 6) do the effects of the intervention justify its cost? This updated guidance can be seen to be drawing together diverse methods of evaluation and represents a significant foundation for innovation in evaluation of health and social care interventions, policies and services.
Northumbria University, Newcastle UK, is hosting ‘The Future of Evaluation in Health and Social Care’, a symposium aimed at igniting ideas through: (1) ‘provocation plenaries’ from esteemed academics (2) insightful breakout sessions focused on how we pivot evaluation to be ready for the future, and (3) a panel session addressing contemporary and future issues faced in evaluation research. A draft agenda is available below:
| Day 1 (14/01/2025) | |
| 1.00-2.00 | Arrival, registration and lunch |
| 2.00-2.15 | Welcome and introduction to the Symposium, Professor Sonia Dalkin |
| 2.15-3.00 | Dr Kathryn Skivington (Public Health Scotland; University of Glasgow) and Professor Laurence Moore (University of Glasgow) - "Strength through diversity?" |
| 3.00-3.30 | Afternoon Break – poster viewing |
| 3.30-4.15 | Professor Ray Pawson (University of Leeds) - "Farewell to Evaluation" |
| 4.15-5.00 | Professor Dave Byrne - “Understanding causes and effects as system states: the implications for evaluation" |
| 4.45-5.00 | Close Day 1 |
| 5.15 onwards | Drinks reception - poster viewing |
| Day 2 (15/01/2025) | |
| 9.15-9.30 | Arrival and Coffee |
| 9.30-9.45 | Welcome to Day 2, Professor Angela Bate |
| 9.45-10.30 | Dr Emily Warren (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) - “Are realist RCTs possible? Reflections from the INCLUSIVE trial” |
| 10.30-11.00 | Morning Break – poster viewing |
| 11.00-12.15 | Click this link to view Breakout Sessions |
| 12.15-1.15 | Lunch |
| 1.15-2.00 | Dr Rachel Meacock (The University of Manchester) - “Reconciling the micro and macro impacts of health and care interventions” |
| 2.00-3.15 | Click this link to view Breakout Sessions |
| 3.15-3.45 | Afternoon Break - poster viewing |
| 3.45-4.45 | Future Directions for Evaluation (Feedback from breakout sessions) |
| 4.45-5.00 | Close Day 2 |
| 7.00 onwards | Symposium Dinner, with after dinner speech |
| Day 3 (16/01/2025) | |
| 9.30-9.45 | Arrival and Coffee |
| 9.45-10.00 | Welcome to Day 3, Dr Jason Scott |
| 10.00-10.45 | Professor Tracy Finch (Northumbria University) and Professor Carl May (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) - "What are we evaluating when we do process evaluations?" |
| 10.45 - 11.15 | Morning Break – poster viewing |
| 11.15-12.00 | Professor Mike Kelly (University of Cambridge) - “Why is Changing Health Inequalities So Difficult?” |
| 12.00-12.45 | Panel Discussion - All speakers |
| 12.45-1.00 | Close Symposium and Poster Awards |
| 1.00 onwards | Lunch |
Speaker Bios
Bios for all of the symposium's speakers are available to download as a PDF here.
Registration
The registration fees for the symposium are as follows:
General Admission: £250
General Admission plus dinner: £300
Deadline for all registrations: 19th December 2024
If you have submitted a poster abstract and require additional time to register, please get in touch.
Host and venue details
Northumbria University is a modern, research-intensive institution with a global reputation for academic excellence. Named UK University of the Year 2022 by Times Higher Education, and Modern University of the Year 2025, it is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with additional campuses in London and Amsterdam. Originating from Rutherford College (founded in 1880), Northumbria is ranked in the UK’s top 25 for research power.
The symposium will be held in Northumbria's Business and Law building with the following address:
City Campus East 1 (CCE1), Falconar St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1UY
Recommended Hotels
15-25 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EW
3 Star
Bridge Court, Close, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BE
4 star
Hawthorn Sq, Forth St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3SA
4 star
17 Newgate St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5RE
4 star
Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RQ
4 star
Poster presentation details
We are inviting submissions for poster presentations at the Future of Evaluation in Health and Social Care Symposium. Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words. We particularly welcome abstracts from PhD Students and Early Career Researchers. Important dates are outlined below:
Call for Poster Abstracts: 10th October 2024
Deadline for Poster Abstracts: 28th November 2024
Notification of Review Outcome: 2nd December 2024
If selected, poster presenters must register to attend the symposium by 16th December. Please note important guidelines below:
- Maximum poster size is A0 (1189(H) x 841(W) mm; 118.9(H) x 84.1(W) cm; 46.8(H) x 33.1(W)) (portrait orientation)
- Please use a large font size on your poster (ideally 24 point or larger)
- Keep text to a minimum and one page
- Use graphs, charts, and/or tables
- Ensure contents have a logical flow
- Make it colourful
Removal and collection of posters at the end of the display period remains the responsibility of the presenter. Posters not removed by the indicated take down time will be removed and disposed of.
Poster awards will be presented at the close of the symposium on Day 3. Three poster awards will be presented: 1) Most Innovative Methods 2) Delegates Choice 3) Best Dissemination and Impact
Abstracts should be structured in the format of: Introduction, Methods, Findings, Discussion, Dissemination and Impact.
Please complete the below form to submit your abstract:
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