NoRTH Northern Realist Research Team Hub

NoRTH is led by Dr Sonia Dalkin (deputy lead Dr Christina Cooper) and comprises an experienced team of researchers based at Northumbria University with established regional, national and international links, who have expertise in and are regularly using and developing realist approaches to research.

Being driven by the ideas of research impact and working on a strong collaborative ethos with practice and academic colleagues, we have found the realist approach particularly useful to generate research with real world impact.


The overall function of NoRTH is:

To support researchers engaging in realist projects – from novice to experienced.

Coordinate a regular and vibrant international realist reading and support group (details of when and where on Twitter).

To run workshops on the use of realist approaches. To promote the use and understanding of realist thinking whenever appropriate.

To disseminate examples of realist work, and methodological advancements.

To support students who wish to learn more about realist approaches.

To stimulate innovative discussion and debates that contributes to the advancement of realist methodology