L2 31/01 Flashcards
What is a theory?
A theory is a way of making sense of the world around us. They are propositions which have meaning, validity, truth within a specific context, such as a historical, social, or cultural context. Within these contexts theories are commonly held to be meaningful.
What is a research theory?
A research theory is an accepted explanation for a given phenomenon
What is an unfounded theory?
A hypothesis
Give 3 examples of healthcare theories
Critical social theory - how society behaves
Theories of health behaviour - how people behaviour around their health
Education and learning theories - health education of public
What is epistemology?
The theory of knowledge
What 3 aspects does epistemology encompass?
How we gain our knowledge (e.g., about radiotherapy practice)
How we determine how trustworthy that knowledge is
We need to be familiar with both aspects
What are the 2 types of knowledge?
Empirical and rational
What is empirical knowledge?
Measured and derived from sense, experience and observation
What is rational knowledge?
Derived from reason and logic – thinking about a particular problem and gaining rational.
What are both empirical and rational knowledge underpinned by?
The concepts of uncertainty and error
What is the purpose of research?
The purpose of research is to test or generate theory through the identification, description, exploration, or explanation of relevant phenomena.
What is quantitive data based on?
Quantity - typically numeric
What is qualitative data based on?
Quality - typically has no units of measurement
What are the 2 paradigms of research?
Positivism (quantitative) and Constructivism (qualitative)
What are the 3 things that positivism assumes?
Reality exists ‘out there’, beyond the human mind
Everything is bound by physical ‘laws’ and is subject to empirical regularities
Everything can be measured
Name the 6 positivism design features
Fairness Simplicity Repeatability Researcher-led Linearity Controlled
Give 3 common positivistic designs in health research
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Randomised control trials
Quasi experiments
Give 3 limitations of positivism
Health research concerns human with different perceptions > positivism can therefore not account for multiple realities i.e., there is only one reality
Inherent biases of the researcher
Human consciousness of those being studied
What are the 2 things that constructivism assumes?
It assumes that reality can only be experienced through the constructive processes of the human mind and never assessed directly
How people experience the world – that for them is the true nature of the world
Is an unfounded “hypothesis” a “theory”?
No, an ‘unfounded theory’ is a hypothesis
Can theories can link different concepts together?
Yes
Is epistemology is the theory of certainty and error?
No, it is the theory of knowledge
Is empirical data derived from reason and logic?
No
Is it true that health research can gather qualitative OR quantitative data but not both?
No, both can be gathered
Does qualitative research gather data that can be directly measured and is usually numeric?
No, quantitative does
Is a paradigm is an atypical example or an exception to a rule?
No, a paradigm is a philosophical framework that research is based on
Is positivism is associated with quantitative data?
Yes, constructivism is associated with qualitative
Do positivism and constructivism both derive from empirical measurements?
No, only positivism
Which of these are features of positivist research? (4)
- Controlled
- Researcher led
- Linear in design
- As unbiased as possible
Do quantitative designs are the best approach for health research?
No, not necessarily
