Theory and Research Questions

Previously, we considered theories and that they should lead to predictions. Now we take it to the next step and use those predictions to develop research questions. We examined the patient-by-treatment-context interactive model of Christensen and Johnson (2002), and we predicted it is the primary health provider (PHP) who is the determining factor, so if the PHP is understanding of a patient's nontraditional medical beliefs, it should increase vaccination use.  Now we can develop a research question based on the prediction.

RQ1: What is the relationship between PHP's support of patients' nontraditional medical beliefs and patients' use of vaccinations?

To use this research question we would need to have a way to measure "PHP's support of patients' nontraditional medical beliefs" and also a way to measure the patients' beliefs. If you are able to find such measurement tools in the literature, great! You could do a quantitative study measuring PHPs' support, patients' beliefs, and the actual use of vaccinations. However, let us say you could not find such measurement tools. You have a couple of choices: 1) develop your own measures or 2) do a qualitative study to examine the opinions of both patients and PHPs. This last choice would require two new research questions.

RQ2: What are PHPs' opinions about patients' nontraditional medical beliefs and vaccinations?

RQ3: What are patients', with nontraditional medical beliefs, opinions about their PHPs and vaccinations?

Here is how we went about this process: from our review of the literature, we found an appropriate theory. The theory led to predictions and our research questions. The research questions suggested the appropriate research method. 

Notice, I did not start with the method, rather I let the theory, predictions, and research questions determine the appropriate research method to use. 

Next time I will consider the passing of time. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Send me an email with your ideas. leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu