Page 10 - Doctoral Academy Level 1 Programme-2023

TOPIC 7

Using paradigm, Theories, Conceptual frameworks and Philosophical Assumptions in Research

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to provide postgraduate students and early career
researchers in healthcare with an understanding of the importance of paradigms, theories, conceptual

frameworks, and philosophical assumptions in healthcare research. By the end of the presentation,
participants should have a clear understanding of how to identify and apply different theoretical
perspectives to healthcare research, and how these perspectives can shape the design and interpretation

of healthcare research.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this presentation, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the role of paradigms in shaping healthcare research, and identify the major paradigms
in healthcare research, including positivism, interpretivism, and critical theory.

2. Identify and apply different theories to healthcare research, such as health behaviour change
theory, chronic care models, or ecological models of health.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of conceptual frameworks in healthcare research, and
identify different types of frameworks, such as theoretical frameworks or analytical
frameworks.

4. Identify the philosophical assumptions that underpin healthcare research, including ontological,
epistemological, and axiological assumptions.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of research questions in shaping the design and

interpretation of healthcare research, and how to develop research questions that are aligned
with theoretical perspectives and philosophical assumptions.
6. Identify different data collection and analysis techniques that are aligned with different

theoretical perspectives and philosophical assumptions, such as qualitative or quantitative
methods.

7. Demonstrate understanding of the role of reflexivity in healthcare research, and how to
critically reflect on the theoretical and philosophical assumptions that underpin healthcare
research.

8. Apply theoretical and philosophical perspectives to their healthcare research, and critically
reflect on the implications of these perspectives for research design and interpretation.

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