Open AccessThe essential role of social theory in qualitative public health research
Author(s) -
Willis Karen,
Daly Jeanne,
Kealy Michelle,
Small Rhonda,
Koutroulis Glenda,
Green Julie,
Gibbs Lisa,
Thomas Samantha
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00115.x
Subject(s) - qualitative research , symbolic interactionism , structural functionalism , sociology , social theory , social research , bridge (graph theory) , functionalism (philosophy of mind) , conceptual framework , epistemology , social science , social psychology , management science , psychology , cognitive science , medicine , philosophy , economics
Objective:To define the role of social theory and examine how research studies using qualitative methods can use social theory to generalise their results beyond the setting of the study or to other social groups.Approach:The assumptions underlying public health research using qualitative methods derive from a range of social theories that include conflict theory, structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, the sociology of knowledge and feminism. Depending on the research problem, these and other social theories provide conceptual tools and models for constructing a suitable research framework, and for collecting and analysing data. In combination with the substantive health literature, the theoretical literature provides the conceptual bridge that links the conclusions of the study to other social groups and settings.Conclusion:While descriptive studies using qualitative research methods can generate important insights into social experience, the use of social theory in the construction and conduct of research enables researchers to extrapolate their findings to settings and groups broader than the ones in which the research was conducted.