Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques

Theory in Practice: Increasing Professional Effectiveness

Much has been written about theory and practice in the law, and the tension between practitioners and theorists. Judges do not cite theoretical articles often; they rarely "apply" theories to particular cases. These arguments are not revisited. Instead the Essay explores the working and interaction of theory and practice, practitioners and theorists. The Essay starts with a story about solving a legal issue using our intellectual tools - theory, practice, and their progenies: experience and "gut." Next the Essay elaborates on the nature of theory, practice, experience and "gut." The third part of the Essay discusses theories that are helpful to practitioners and those that are less helpful. The Essay concludes that practitioners theorize, and theorists practice. They use these intellectual tools differently because the goals and orientations of theorists and practitioners, and the constraints under which they act, differ. Theory, practice, experience and "gut" help us think, remember, decide and create. They complement each other like the two sides of the same coin: distinct but inseparable.

Of Theory and Practice

INTRODUCTION: Appraising the quality of studies included in systematic reviews combining qualitative and quantitative evidence is challenging. To address this challenge, a critical appraisal tool was developed: the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The aim of this paper is to present the enhancements made to the MMAT. DEVELOPMENT: The MMAT was initially developed in 2006 based on a literature review on systematic reviews combining qualitative and quantitative evidence. It was subject to pilot and interrater reliability testing. A revised version of the MMAT was developed in 2018 based on the results from usefulness testing, a literature review on critical appraisal tools and a modified e-Delphi study with methodological experts to identify core criteria. TOOL DESCRIPTION: The MMAT assesses the quality of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. It focuses on methodological criteria and includes five core quality criteria for each of the following five categories of study designs: (a) qualitative, (b) randomized controlled, (c) nonrandomized, (d) quantitative descriptive, and (e) mixed methods. CONCLUSION: The MMAT is a unique tool that can be used to appraise the quality of different study designs. Also, by limiting to core criteria, the MMAT can provide a more efficient appraisal.

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The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) Version 2018 for Information Professionals and Researchers.

Chronic health conditions have been on the rise across the world. But few health care systems, have proved able to cope with managing this dramatic increase in chronic conditions. This report from the World Health Organization (WHO) provides a comprehensive framework for the prevention framework for the prevention and management of Chronic health conditions around the world. Chronic health conditions were defined in this report as “health problems that persist across time and require some degree of health care management”. This new report addresses how policy makers can take effective and innovative action to tackle these conditions. The report addresses the following issues: Exploring chronic conditions, including how and why they are increasing, what is their economic impact on patients, families, communities, and governments, and how to reduce their prevalence. The deficits in current systems of health to successfully manage chronic conditions because the acute care model dominates health care systems. The acute care model increased health care expenditures without improving populations health status. A new framework for health care systems to improve care for chronic conditions. This framework is comprised of fundamental components within the patient, health care organization and community, and policy levels. These components were described as “building blocks” that can be used to re-design a health care system to manage long-term health problems more effectively. The report describes eight essential elements for improving and creating innovations in the care of chronic conditions. These elements include: Supporting a shift in attitudes, so that decision­ makers, health workers and patients are aware that a shift in resources from the acute, episodic model of care is needed to meet the different of chronic conditions. Building political commitment to the process of preventing and managing chronic conditions. Avoiding fragmentation of services, to ensure that the care for chronic conditions is integrated. To align and analyze policies which affect chronic conditions, such as agricultural regulations, labor laws and health education. To use new, team care models and evidence-based skills for managing chronic conditions, worth more efficient use of health care personnel. To re-oriented Health care for chronic conditions around the patient and family. To support patients within their communities, because communities can fill a crucial gap in health services that are not provided by organized health care. To emphasize prevention, as many of the complications of chronic conditions can be prevented or reduced. This report provides a well-formulated framework for decision-makers and health service planners to implement strategies for comprehensively managing chronic conditions.

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Innovative care for chronic conditions: building blocks for action

Quality of qualitative research in the health sciences: Analysis of the common criteria present in 58 assessment guidelines by expert users.

This article presents a comparative study of five texts written by Sabina Spielrein, Jean Piaget and Lev S. Vygotsky on child language and thought. Spielrein was one of the first psychoanalysts who showed an interest in child language. She was Piaget's psychoanalyst in 1920. In 1923, she presented a paper at the Congress of Psychoanalysis in Berlin, also attended by Piaget. She returned to Russia in 1923 and became a member of the Russian Psychoanalytic Society, which had recently been created by Luria and of which Vygotsky was also a member. It appears that both Piaget and Vygotsky were influenced by her pioneering work, each of them in unique ways. Her work may therefore be the `missing link' between Piaget and Vygotsky, thus contributing to a better understanding of those epistemological issues involved in the authors' debates concerning child language, thought and socialization. Neither author has acknowledged his debt to Spielrein.

Spielrein, Piaget and Vygotsky: Three Positions on Child thought and Language

Qualitative research today must develop tools to better clarify the processes of data interpretation. Studies on reflexivity have made inroads in this direction by stressing the engagement of the researcher’s subjectivity: the researcher is no longer “outside,” no longer a neutral observer who is affectively and politically detached, but is rather an instrument in the research process. However, reflexivity frequently remains no more than a general attitude whose practical modalities lack clear definition. Using the concept of resonances, originally developed in the field of constructivist systemic therapy (Elkaim 1989), the present article proposes a tool to account for reflexive and self-reflexive processes more comprehensively. The practical application of the resonances technique is illustrated by the example of a research interview.

From Reflexivity to Resonances: Accounting for Interpretation Phenomena in Qualitative Research

The author focuses on a historical analysis of the conflicting links between what is called “applications” or “practices” on the one hand and “theoretical research” or “experimental research” or “fundamental research” on the other, by following trends and cultures. Despite numerous declarations of intent advocating the need to link practices and theories, the fact remains that both types of psychology tend to move further and further away from this aim, since the birth of psychology. This growing gap questions the possibility of a total division between “applied psychology” and “fundamental psychology”. First, the author discusses the complexity of the terms used by the different authors, such as “applied psychology”, “practical psychology” and “concrete psychology”, compared to other terms such as “academic”, “experimental”, “theoretical”, “fundamental psychology”, etc. These different names are considered as an indicator of the fluctuations in the relationship between applications and theories. Second, the author shows that the field categories in psychology were built upon different foundations in France and underlines the consequences of this process. This viewpoint will be illustrated by a French case: that of the creation and dissemination of a new psychological discipline at the end of the 80s. The interest of this example is that it shows the disparities between the academic theories and practical developments. In addition, it allows us to highlight its tension lines, with considerable consequences for students and practitioners. The discussion shows the need to implement a real space that enables the analysis of concrete practices by psychologists considered as producers of new knowledge, and in this way to make the construction of new psychology models possible.

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Evolution of the Links between Research and Applications in Psychology across the United States and France: Illustrations and Consequences of an Endless Conflict

Marie Santiago-Delefosse

Papers

Quality of qualitative research in the health sciences: Analysis of the common criteria present in 58 assessment guidelines by expert users.

Spielrein, Piaget and Vygotsky: Three Positions on Child thought and Language

From Reflexivity to Resonances: Accounting for Interpretation Phenomena in Qualitative Research

Evolution of the Links between Research and Applications in Psychology across the United States and France: Illustrations and Consequences of an Endless Conflict

Les méthodes de recherche qualitatives et la psychologie de la santé .