TY - JOUR
T1 - The contribution of theory to an ethnographic case study on interprofessional placements in healthcare education
AU - O’Leary, Noreen
AU - Salmon, Nancy
AU - Clifford, Amanda M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Theoretical frameworks add depth to research and increase the transferability of findings. Unfortunately, theory application within interprofessional research is often ad hoc, superficial and poorly reported. Consequently, there are limited examples for researchers in the field to draw on when selecting and applying theory. In this paper, we explore how a suite of sociomaterial, and sociological theories were selected to guide an ethnographic case study about interprofessional placements. Theory supported development of nuanced data collection tools. This facilitated comprehensive exploration of the factors impacting interprofessional placements, beyond those immediately visible. The use of a combination of theories was well suited to this complex phenomenon. We recommend research methodology training aims to develop researcher facility with theory and more consistent consideration of theory in reporting and quality appraisal tools. This may support more meaningful theory application, generating findings with deeply embedded theoretical foundations in interprofessional research.
AB - Theoretical frameworks add depth to research and increase the transferability of findings. Unfortunately, theory application within interprofessional research is often ad hoc, superficial and poorly reported. Consequently, there are limited examples for researchers in the field to draw on when selecting and applying theory. In this paper, we explore how a suite of sociomaterial, and sociological theories were selected to guide an ethnographic case study about interprofessional placements. Theory supported development of nuanced data collection tools. This facilitated comprehensive exploration of the factors impacting interprofessional placements, beyond those immediately visible. The use of a combination of theories was well suited to this complex phenomenon. We recommend research methodology training aims to develop researcher facility with theory and more consistent consideration of theory in reporting and quality appraisal tools. This may support more meaningful theory application, generating findings with deeply embedded theoretical foundations in interprofessional research.
KW - educational research
KW - Healthcare
KW - research design
KW - theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084257178&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13645579.2020.1756636
DO - 10.1080/13645579.2020.1756636
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85084257178
SN - 1364-5579
VL - 24
SP - 39
EP - 52
JO - International Journal of Social Research Methodology
JF - International Journal of Social Research Methodology
IS - 1
ER -