L2 31/01

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What is a research theory?

Answer 2

A research theory is an accepted explanation for a given phenomenon

Question 3

What is an unfounded theory?

Answer 3

A hypothesis

Question 4

Give 3 examples of healthcare theories

Answer 4

Critical social theory - how society behaves
Theories of health behaviour - how people behaviour around their health
Education and learning theories - health education of public

Question 5

What is epistemology?

Answer 5

The theory of knowledge

Question 6

What 3 aspects does epistemology encompass?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are the 2 types of knowledge?

Answer 7

Empirical and rational

Question 8

What is empirical knowledge?

Answer 8

Measured and derived from sense, experience and observation

Question 9

What is rational knowledge?

Answer 9

Derived from reason and logic – thinking about a particular problem and gaining rational.

Question 10

What are both empirical and rational knowledge underpinned by?

Answer 10

The concepts of uncertainty and error

Question 11

What is the purpose of research?

Answer 11

The purpose of research is to test or generate theory through the identification, description, exploration, or explanation of relevant phenomena.

Question 12

What is quantitive data based on?

Answer 12

Quantity - typically numeric

Question 13

What is qualitative data based on?

Answer 13

Quality - typically has no units of measurement

Question 14

What are the 2 paradigms of research?

Answer 14

Positivism (quantitative) and Constructivism (qualitative)

Question 15

What are the 3 things that positivism assumes?

Answer 15

Reality exists ‘out there’, beyond the human mind
Everything is bound by physical ‘laws’ and is subject to empirical regularities
Everything can be measured

Question 16

Name the 6 positivism design features

Answer 16

Fairness
Simplicity
Repeatability
Researcher-led
Linearity 
Controlled

Question 17

Give 3 common positivistic designs in health research

Answer 17

Systematic review and meta-analysis
Randomised control trials
Quasi experiments

Question 18

Give 3 limitations of positivism

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What are the 2 things that constructivism assumes?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Is an unfounded “hypothesis” a “theory”?

Answer 20

No, an ‘unfounded theory’ is a hypothesis

Question 21

Can theories can link different concepts together?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

Is epistemology is the theory of certainty and error?

Answer 22

No, it is the theory of knowledge

Question 23

Is empirical data derived from reason and logic?

Answer 23

No

Question 24

Is it true that health research can gather qualitative OR quantitative data but not both?

Answer 24

No, both can be gathered

Question 25

Does qualitative research gather data that can be directly measured and is usually numeric?

Answer 25

No, quantitative does

Question 26

Is a paradigm is an atypical example or an exception to a rule?

Answer 26

No, a paradigm is a philosophical framework that research is based on

Question 27

Is positivism is associated with quantitative data?

Answer 27

Yes, constructivism is associated with qualitative

Question 28

Do positivism and constructivism both derive from empirical measurements?

Answer 28

No, only positivism

Question 29

Which of these are features of positivist research? (4)

Answer 29

• Controlled
• Researcher led
• Linear in design
• As unbiased as possible

Question 30

Do quantitative designs are the best approach for health research?

Answer 30

No, not necessarily