Alejandro sits down with Suzanne Jackson, Associate Professor Emerita at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Suzanne has been a pioneer in participatory research for decades, and her work has shaped how realist approaches can be applied in complex community and health promotion contexts.

Together, they dive into the art (and challenge) of linked coding of context–mechanism–outcome configurations in realist research. From the early development of dyads and triads, to recent adaptations making the method more participatory and responsive to community needs, Suzanne takes us through the evolution of this approach and the lessons learned along the way.

We hear how she has applied this method in diverse projects, from early parenting programmes in Toronto, to community resilience research during COVID-19, and what these experiences reveal about the practical realities of applying realist evaluation in complex, real-world settings.

Suzanne also shares practical advice for researchers and evaluators: how to align definitions across coding teams, why early discussions are crucial for consistency, and her top three tips for making sense of programme theories through linked analysis.