Physiotherapiewissenschaft umfassend verstehen: Ein angewandter Überblick über verschiedene Forschungsparadigmen (Teil 1)

Abstract

International health and physiotherapy research has developed over the last few decades through the use and further development of a wide range of scientific theories. This enables researchers to address current issues more appropriately and contribute to change. In German-speaking countries, this diversity of scientific grounding has yet to be developed. The common distinction between quantitative and qualitative research contributes to misunderstandings, whereby the diversity implicit in these terms is lost for theory development and applied research.<p>

<p>In a two-part article, an overview of the most common research paradigms in international health and physiotherapy research were provided to promote their basic understanding and practical application in German-speaking physiotherapy science. Understanding these paradigms is a crucial step towards addressing today’s complex health, social and environmental problems.<p>

<p>In the first part, conceptual foundations were clarified before addressing positivism and interpretivism and concluding the article with a summary. In the second part, the critical paradigm and post-structuralism were clarified, then the significance of the various research paradigms for the scientific discourse in physiotherapy were discussed.<p>

<p>In the exploration of each paradigm, their underlying ontological, epistemological, and methodological assumptions were delved, and their practical possibilities. Then the practical implications of each paradigm were demonstrated through research questions on academization.<p>

<p>The presentation clarifies that explicit and stringent theoretical foundations are indispensable in physiotherapy research. Further study of the paradigms presented here will be necessary to elucidate their details, nuances, and variations. Only when we understand science comprehensively, in this way, can it contribute to the further development of physiotherapy and health to an even greater extent than before.