Prospectus: Theoretical Framework

This section of the prospectus is examining the theory you will be using in your study (this is not the qualitative method you will be using). Describe the theory(s), then take it to the next step and lay out what the theory predicts will happen in your study. If you find you cannot come up with predictions, it may not be an appropriate theory. To develop predictions, think through each step of your study and how it relates to your theory. It may make it clearer to give you an example from a recent article I wrote with some colleagues (Stadtlander et al., 2013):

The patient-by-treatment-context interactive model of Christensen and Johnson (2002) provides the framework for the study. The model proposes that the relationship between patient characteristics (e.g., personality and beliefs) and patient adherence (e.g., preventative care) is moderated by the treatment context (e.g., primary health provider characteristics and behavior). The model has been successfully applied to specific illnesses; for example, renal insufficiency and hemodialysis (Christensen, Moran, & Ehlers, 1999) and cardiac rehabilitation (Christensen et al., 1999). It does not appear to have been previously applied in the present context of ongoing preventative care in older adults. The patient (Locus of Control [LOC], resilience, self-efficacy, beliefs, and behavior) and treatment (Primary Health Provider [PHP] characteristics, health behaviors) variables in the current study were derived from the literature and are consistent with this model.

From the perspective of the patient-by-treatment-context interactive model of Christensen and Johnson (2002), adherence (preventative care) is expected to be best when the patient's characteristics (personality and beliefs) are consistent with the treatment context (PHP characteristics and behavior; Christensen, 2004). Thus, in the current study, there should be consistent preventative care (adherence) when the patient has higher internal LOC (being proactive in health), higher resilience (inner strength and optimism, health-promoting behaviors) and higher self-efficacy (more likely to seek information and self-confidence) and to indicate that they like or feel comfortable with their PHP (treatment). In addition, it would be expected that there would be less preventative care (lack of adherence) when the patient has lower internal LOC (i.e., external; not proactive in health), higher powerful others and chance scores (increased trust in PHP). Other expectations include lower resilience (higher level of subjective complaints, fewer health-promoting activities), and lower self-efficacy (less likely to apply health interventions [preventative care] and less self-confidence) and to indicate that they do not like or feel comfortable with their PHP (treatment).

Next time, we will work on your research questions. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu