Sonia Dalkin is a Professor of Applied Health and Social Care Research in the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, with expertise in complex intervention evaluation and realist approaches. She has interests in diverse methods with an emphasis on mixed and novel approaches. Accordingly, Sonia has significant experience in realist approaches, providing training in the approach throughout the UK and internationally. In 2018, she co-authored ‘Doing Realist Research’, published by Sage. Her work portfolio reflects her realist experience with projects in palliative care, long term conditions and public health.

In 2018, Sonia launched the Northern Realist Research Team Hub (NoRTH). NoRTH 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.

Her most recent research, co-led with Professor Angela Bate, aims to address the requirements outlined by the MRC Framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. This methodological development research aims to formulate Realist Economic Evaluation Methods (REEM) and associated guidance, to better understand and evaluate the costs and consequences of complex interventions. It will bring together realist and economic evaluation to enable evaluators to establish what works, for whom, in which circumstances, whist integrating better understanding of costs and consequences (including opportunity cost).