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Developing a Testable Hypothesis:
Research Methods in the
Health Professions I
HFR 8270
George Washington University
Week 4
Theory can guide the
Chapter 4 experiment. or sometimes
The Role of Theory in Research and observation guides the theory
Practice
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Objectives
Discuss the role of theory in clinical practice and
research.
Identify four purposes of theories in clinical research.
Illustrate deductive and inductive logic and
differentiate inductive and deductive theories.
Define and illustrate concepts and constructs.
Describe propositions and models in relation to
clinical theory.
Illustrate how hypotheses are derived from theories
and are used to test theories.
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Theory
Used to generalize beyond a specific
situation and to make predictions about
what should happen in other similar
situations.
In research and practice allows us to
speculate on why and how things work.
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Purposes of Theories
Summarize existing knowledge to explain
observable events.
Allow us to predict what should occur.
Stimulate the development of new
knowledge.
Provides the basis for asking a question in
applied research.
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Components of Theories
Concepts – abstractions that allow us to classify
natural phenomena and empirical observations.
• Variables – concepts which can be assigned variables
so their relationships can be examined
Constructs – abstract concepts that are not
observable.
Prepositions – generalized statements that
asserts the theoretical linkages between
concepts.
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A Model of Scientific Thought
Figure 4.1
LAWS
Theory Development
Theory Testing
Theory
DEDUCTION
continous relationship,
INDUCTION
Explanation of relationships
Conceptual Framework
Empirical Generalizations
Research Hypotheses
Predicted Relationships theory becoming a law
EMPIRICAL
OBSERVATIONS
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Models
A simplified approximation of a process or a
structure.
Types of models include physical models,
process models, and quantitative models.
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The Transtheoretical Model of Behavior
Change
Figure 4.2
Pre‐ Contemplation
contemplation
Enter Stages of
Behavior
change of
Change
Maintenance Planning
behavior. stop
smoking, losing
Relapse Action
weight
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Theory Development
Deductive reasoning is the acceptance of a
general preposition and subsequent inferences
that can be drawn
• Intuitive
• Going from broad to specific
Inductive reasoning is logic that develops
generalization from specific observations.
• Searching for patterns
• Going from specific to broad
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Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Figure 4.3
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Theory Testing
Theory
• Can never be proven or completely refuted
• Not directly testable
Hypothesis
• Tested to demonstrate if the theory holds in
certain circumstances
• Facts can support or not support hypothesis
‒ If the hypothesis is supported by fact, the theory is
also supported
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Characteristics of Theories
A theory should be rational
A theory should be testable
A theory should be economical
A theory should be relevant
A theory should be adaptable
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Theory, Research and Practice
Research
• Results of studies can be used to build theories
(inductive)
• Theories can be used to develop hypotheses for
testing in studies (deductive)
• Implicit and explicit relationship to research
questions
Practice
• Theories guide clinical decisions
• Treatment outcomes can support theories
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Scope of Theories
Middle‐range theories ‐ form a bridge between
theory and empirical observations.
Grand theories – more comprehensive; tries to
explain phenomena at the societal level.
Meta‐theory – used to reconcile several
theoretical perspectives.
Laws – derived when theories reach a level of
absolute consistency; mostly observed in
physical science.
• E.g., Newton’s laws of motion
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