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Related Experiment Videos

Reflections on the relationship between theory and practice.

D R Buchanan1

  • 1School of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.

Health Education Research
|August 6, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Bridging the gap in health education requires moving beyond the natural sciences model. This paper offers a new conceptualization of theory to better connect research and practice for improved program development.

Area of Science:

  • Health Education
  • Social Sciences
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • A significant disconnect exists between theoretical frameworks and practical application in health education.
  • Classical philosophy distinguishes between 'theoria' (natural processes) and 'praxis' (social practices), offering a lens to analyze this divide.
  • The limitations of the natural sciences model are highlighted as a key factor contributing to this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the problems causing the theory-practice gulf in health education.
  • To critique the applicability of the natural sciences model to human behavior in health education.
  • To propose an alternative conceptualization of theory to bridge the gap between theory, research, and practice.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis drawing on Aristotelian concepts of theoria and praxis.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Critique of positivist methodology and its limitations in health education research.
  • Development of an alternative theoretical model for health education.

    • Main Results:

    • The natural sciences model, rooted in positivism, is inadequate for addressing the complexities of human behavior in health education.
    • Experimental, hypothesis-testing research yields limited practical guidance for program development.
    • An alternative conceptualization of theory is presented as a means to integrate research and practice.

    Conclusions:

    • Reconceptualizing theory is crucial for closing the gap between theory, research, and practice in health education.
    • Moving beyond a purely natural science approach is necessary for effective health education program development.
    • The proposed alternative model offers a framework for more relevant and applicable health education theory.