Alejandro sits down with Zoe McCormack, a PhD researcher at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, whose very first PhD paper, a realist review , has just been published.

Together, they dive into the art (and challenge) of building programme theory in realist research. From defining what programme theory really means, to navigating the messy process of scoping and refining ideas in complex educational contexts, Zoe opens up about the highs and hurdles of her research journey.

We hear how stakeholder engagement shapes more meaningful theories, why exposure to lived experience is so vital for building empathy in mental health education, and what Zoe’s findings reveal about preparing health profession students to better understand and support mental wellbeing.

Zoe also shares practical advice for anyone grappling with realist evaluation and synthesis: her step-by-step tips for developing theories, the lessons she’s learned from combing through hundreds of articles, and her top three takeaways for building programme theories that actually hold up in practice.