Related Experiment Videos
World Health Organization behavioral science research: problems and prospects
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1987
Summary
World Health Organization behavioral research quality is often poor due to rigid adherence to quantitative methods. Improving research requires evaluating past work and adapting support procedures for practical health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- World Health Organization (WHO) behavioral research aims to inform policy and improve healthcare delivery.
- Current research quality is often suboptimal, with a focus on design over practical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the factors contributing to the poor quality and limited utility of WHO-supported behavioral research.
- To propose recommendations for enhancing the quality and practical relevance of future research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of professional and structural factors influencing research evaluation and application.
- Critique of the dominance of quantitative methods and the neglect of qualitative approaches.
Main Results:
- Research committees favor quantitative methods, leading behavioral scientists to prioritize design elegance over operational utility.
- Limited understanding of research scope by committees restricts focus to community behavior change, neglecting organizational policy research.
Conclusions:
- WHO behavioral research requires reform to improve quality and practical utility.
- Suggested improvements include workshops for evaluation and modified research support procedures.