% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
% Please edit documentation in R/realist.R
\name{mb_cmo}
\alias{mb_cmo}
\title{Context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configuration}
\usage{
mb_cmo(context, mechanism, outcome, evidence = NA_character_)
}
\arguments{
\item{context}{Character vector. The contextual conditions
needed for the mechanism to fire.}

\item{mechanism}{Character vector. The underlying generative
mechanism (typically a change in reasoning or resources).}

\item{outcome}{Character vector. The observed outcome pattern.}

\item{evidence}{Character vector. Citation, quote, or other
evidence supporting the configuration. Default \code{NA}.}
}
\value{
An \code{mb_cmo} data frame with columns \code{context},
\code{mechanism}, \code{outcome}, \code{evidence}.
}
\description{
Records one or more CMO configurations from a realist evaluation:
the \emph{contexts} in which a \emph{mechanism} fires to produce an
\emph{outcome}, with optional supporting evidence.
}
\details{
Realist evaluation, developed by Pawson and Tilley (1997), seeks
to answer "what works for whom in what circumstances and why" by
surfacing CMO configurations rather than estimating average
treatment effects. The Magenta Book lists realist evaluation as
the principal theory-based approach for context-dependent
interventions.
}
\examples{
mb_cmo(
  context   = c("High trust GP-patient relationships",
                "Low trust GP-patient relationships"),
  mechanism = c("Patients accept advice", "Patients ignore advice"),
  outcome   = c("Improved adherence", "No change in adherence"),
  evidence  = c("Smith et al. 2024 cohort study", "Smith et al. 2024")
)
}
\references{
Pawson, R., Tilley, N. (1997). Realistic Evaluation. SAGE.

HM Treasury (2020). The Magenta Book, chapter on theory-based
evaluation.
\url{https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-magenta-book}.
}
\seealso{
\code{\link[=mb_contribution_claim]{mb_contribution_claim()}}.

Other realist: 
\code{\link{mb_contribution_claim}()}
}
\concept{realist}
