Realist evaluation CMO worksheet

Ask what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why. First define Context, Mechanism and Outcome, then develop several CMO hypotheses.

When to use this worksheet and what completion involves Fictional completed example

EvalCompass Worksheet

Realist evaluation CMO worksheet

Method: Realist Evaluation

Ask what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why. First define Context, Mechanism and Outcome, then develop several CMO hypotheses.

Basic information

Enter the program and research question

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Program name: Evaluation planning training (fictional)
CMO research question (what works, for whom, where and why): Under what workplace conditions are training plans used, and why?
Evaluation team: Evaluation and training officers
Date prepared: September 13, 2026

Reason for this entry: Ask about differing conditions and responses rather than average scores.

Program name

CMO research question (what works, for whom, where and why)

Evaluation team

Date prepared

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Enter the program and research question

Ask about differing conditions and responses rather than average scores.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Follow each field’s heading to record the program name, focus, period, and other details. Leave undecided matters clearly marked as unresolved.

Read the full fictional example

Define CMO elements

Define the specific context, mechanism and outcome examined in this evaluation

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

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Element	Definition (meaning in this evaluation)	Measurement and verification methods
C	Meetings where plans can be discussed and supervisor support	Meeting records and staff interviews
M	A draft plan for one’s own program provides a resource that generates confidence and a prospect of use	Interview on judgments made when using the plan
O	Use the plan in a meeting to decide collection items	Meeting materials and decision records

Reason for this entry: Distinguish activities, context, responses and results.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Element	Definition (meaning in this evaluation)	Measurement and verification methods

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Define the specific context, mechanism and outcome examined in this evaluation

Distinguish activities, context, responses and results.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

CMO hypothesis list

Develop several hypotheses in the form “If mechanism [M] operates in context [C], outcome [O] is expected”

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Context (contextual conditions)	Mechanism (changes in cognition, emotions or choices)	Outcome (expected result)	Rationale and sources
H1	Improvements can be proposed at regular meetings	Seeing the training draft creates confidence that it can be explained	Staff bring the plan to a meeting and determine items	Untested hypothesis for this example

Reason for this entry: Do not present hypotheses as explanations already proven by research.

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Hypothesis number	Context (contextual conditions)	Mechanism (changes in cognition, emotions or choices)	Outcome (expected result)	Rationale and sources

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Develop several hypotheses in the form “If mechanism [M] operates in context [C], outcome [O] is expected”

Do not present hypotheses as explanations already proven by research.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Hypothesis testing plan

Enter the data used to test each CMO hypothesis

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Data source for C	Data source for M	Data source for O	Testing timing
H1	Agenda-setting rules and supervisor interview	Interviews on trainees’ judgments when using plans	Meeting minutes and revised plans	3 months after training

Reason for this entry: Choose sources suited to each element.

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Hypothesis number	Data source for C	Data source for M	Data source for O	Testing timing

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Enter the data used to test each CMO hypothesis

Choose sources suited to each element.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

CMO testing results (complete after analysis)

Record results for each hypothesis and summarize refined configurations

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Result (supported / partly supported / rejected)	Revised CMO configuration	Implications for transferability
H1	Partly supported (fictional analysis)	Plans were unused despite meetings when they did not fit work issues. Add fit with duties to C	Introducing meetings alone in another organization is insufficient

Reason for this entry: Use counterexamples to specify the theory.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Result (supported / partly supported / rejected)	Revised CMO configuration	Implications for transferability

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Record results for each hypothesis and summarize refined configurations

Use counterexamples to specify the theory.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Before writing, check when to use the worksheet and what completion involves

Realist evaluation CMO worksheet is a worksheet for applying Realist Evaluation in meetings or individual work. For the overall duration of the method, use “Illustrative estimate (adjust for scale and staffing): 2–4 weeks for literature review and CMO hypotheses; several months to 1 year or more for empirical work” as a reference, adjusting for scale and resources. Fill in what you know provisionally and leave unresolved matters as questions to check next.

When this worksheet is useful

Explaining why a program worked in one setting but not another
Assessing transferability when considering implementation or scaling in different contexts
Systematically learning about effective mechanisms from existing evaluations and studies (realist synthesis)

Participants and preparation

Evaluation researchers (consider expertise in both quantitative and qualitative approaches), program theory specialists and frontline implementers. An illustrative plan assigns literature review to 1–2 researchers.

Bring the materials used for decisions, existing data, and differing stakeholder views to help complete the worksheet.

Suggested order

1. Basic informationEnter the program and research question
2. Define CMO elementsDefine the specific context, mechanism and outcome examined in this evaluation
3. CMO hypothesis listDevelop several hypotheses in the form “If mechanism [M] operates in context [C], outcome [O] is expected”
4. Hypothesis testing planEnter the data used to test each CMO hypothesis
5. CMO testing results (complete after analysis)Record results for each hypothesis and summarize refined configurations

Signs the worksheet is ready for review

CMO hypothesis map
Refined CMO configuration list
Analysis of effects by context

Cautions for review

Being satisfied with a CMO configuration and neglecting data collection to test it
Confusing mechanisms with program activities such as delivering training. Mechanisms involve reasoning and resources in relation to the program (participants’ cognition, emotions and choices)
Using only broad categories such as urban / rural rather than identifying specific contextual factors affecting mechanisms

Read a completed fictional example (your entries will not change)

Fictional example; not actual results

The following fictional example compares organizations that did and did not use plans after evaluation planning training.

Basic information

Program name: Evaluation planning training (fictional)
CMO research question (what works, for whom, where and why): Under what workplace conditions are training plans used, and why?
Evaluation team: Evaluation and training officers
Date prepared: September 13, 2026

Reason for this entry: Ask about differing conditions and responses rather than average scores.

Define CMO elements

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Element	Definition (meaning in this evaluation)	Measurement and verification methods
C	Meetings where plans can be discussed and supervisor support	Meeting records and staff interviews
M	A draft plan for one’s own program provides a resource that generates confidence and a prospect of use	Interview on judgments made when using the plan
O	Use the plan in a meeting to decide collection items	Meeting materials and decision records

Reason for this entry: Distinguish activities, context, responses and results.

CMO hypothesis list

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Context (contextual conditions)	Mechanism (changes in cognition, emotions or choices)	Outcome (expected result)	Rationale and sources
H1	Improvements can be proposed at regular meetings	Seeing the training draft creates confidence that it can be explained	Staff bring the plan to a meeting and determine items	Untested hypothesis for this example

Reason for this entry: Do not present hypotheses as explanations already proven by research.

Hypothesis testing plan

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Data source for C	Data source for M	Data source for O	Testing timing
H1	Agenda-setting rules and supervisor interview	Interviews on trainees’ judgments when using plans	Meeting minutes and revised plans	3 months after training

Reason for this entry: Choose sources suited to each element.

CMO testing results (complete after analysis)

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hypothesis number	Result (supported / partly supported / rejected)	Revised CMO configuration	Implications for transferability
H1	Partly supported (fictional analysis)	Plans were unused despite meetings when they did not fit work issues. Add fit with duties to C	Introducing meetings alone in another organization is insufficient

Reason for this entry: Use counterexamples to specify the theory.

Common errors in judgment

Writing “2 training sessions delivered” under M

How to revise: Describe how exercises affected participants’ judgments

Reason: This distinguishes implementation activities from mechanisms.

Applying one successful organization’s CMO to all organizations

How to revise: Examine different conditions and non-use cases and revise hypotheses

Reason: The method examines how responses vary by context.

Editorial and checking information

Content updated: 2026-09-13Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)No documented human reviewIncludes fictional examplesEditorial policy and scope of checking Cite this page Report a correction

References and checked sections

Supplementary Guide: Realist evaluation
HM Treasury / Evaluation Task Force · 2026
Section consulted
3. Developing realist theory: Context, mechanism and outcome; 5. Applying the realist frame to evaluation
How it relates to the text
Consider mechanisms as combinations of program resources or opportunities and people’s responses to them.
Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)

How to cite this page

EvalCompass Editorial Team. “Realist evaluation CMO worksheet”. EvalCompass, updated 2026-09-13. https://evalcompass.jun-nakatani.com/en/worksheets/realist-evaluation/

Add the date you accessed the page. Text created by this site is available under CC BY 4.0. Quotations, external materials, and bundled fonts have their own terms of use. When reusing content, credit the source, link to the license, and indicate any changes.

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Change history

2026-09-13 — Updated explanations to correspond to the sources and added method-specific fictional completed examples, judgment examples and a change log.