Title: Evidence-based research : dilemmas and debates in health care /
Authors: Brown, Brian, 1962-; Crawford, Paul, 1963-; Hicks, Carolyn
Publisher: Open University Press,
Year: 2003
Subjects: Public health Research; Health Services Research; Philosophy
Abstract: This work covers perspectives in the philosophy of science and critically discusses their relevance to healthcare research, using examples of paradigms, theories and research findings in the health sciences. It shows how healthcare research has been challenged by postmodernist philosophies.
Contents: Introduction: theories of science and theories of society -- Epistemology I: positivism -- 'they don't build epistemologies like that any more' -- Concepts and theories I: what is a concept in the health sciences? -- Concepts and theories II: interpretation and hermeneutics -- Philosophies of discription -- The post-modernist challenge -- Philosophy and research design in practice.