THE PLACE AND PROMISE OF

THEORY IN REHABILITATION
PSYCHOLOGY
Aut hor s :
Dana S. Dunn
De p a r t me n t o f Ps yc h o l o g y, Mo r a vi a n Co l le g e

Timothy R. Elliott
De p a r t me n t o f Ed u c a t i on a l P sy c h o lo g y, Te x a s A &M Un i ve r s it y

Pres en ter: S h i el a S . B a d i an g
 • assert for the primacy of theory and explain why theories
are needed in and useful for rehabilitation psychology

• Impediments to theory development are discussed,

including the difficulties of applying psychological
theories in multidisciplinary enterprises, and the
difficulties in developing a theory-driven research
program

• offer suggestions by reviewing research settings,

Objectives of knowledge gained through controlled studies,
grantsmanship, and then
the Article
• identify topical areas where new theories are needed.

• remind researcher-practitioners that rehabilitation

psychology benefits from a judicious mix of scientific
rigor and real-world vigor .
 Theory
• is a collection of coherent, related ideas derived
from what is already known about some
phenomenon in order to explain some existing
behavior or to predict the occurrence of future
behavior
The primacy of
theory
Rehabilitation Psychology

• Any theory, then, is used to establish causality

and, in effect, to explicate what sequence of events
led to what particular outcome or set of results
 • Simplicity

• Consistency with what is already known

• Is empirically integrative

• Organizing and communicating findings

A Good Theory
• Is general, not overly specific, in scope

• Being shared, not owned

• Guiding and directing subsequent research

• Being highly practical

• Open to adjustment and change

 Rehabilitation Psychology
- a branch of psychology, relies on
established theories aimed at preventing
Overview of and treating disability and chronic illness

Psychological
Some theories are drawn from:
Theories in
Rehabilitation Wider discipline
Psychology Represent applications or extensions of
this existing knowledge

developed in response to the particular

health needs of individuals or groups
 Is there anything about rehabilitation
psychology that renders theory development
somewhat different from other areas of the
wider discipline?

Overview of Answer: perhaps

Psychological
Theories in Historically and currently, rehabilitation psychology
embraces interdisciplinary perspectives.
Rehabilitation
Psychology
Psychology Education
Medicine
Nursing
Psychotherapy
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Neuroscience
 Categorizing Levels of Theory
and Theoretical Advancements

Overview of • Broad theories

Psychological • Mid-range theories
Theories in • Micro-theories
Rehabilitation • Explanatory models
Psychology
 Categorizing Levels of Theory and Theoretical
Advancements
• Broad theories
- B ro a d t h e o r i e s s t e m d i re c t l y f ro m t h e m a j o r s y s t e m s o f p s y c h o l o g y
( b e h a v i o r i s m , n e u ro s c i e n c e )
- B ro a d t h e o r i e s a re l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n s o f e x i s t i n g , e s t a b l i s h e d t h e o re t i c a l
systems

Overview of - S t u d y o f Wi l b e r t F o rd y c e ( 1 0 7 6 )

Psychological • Mid-range theories

-
Theories in
a re d e r i v a t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e l a rg e r s y s t e m s i n p s y c h o l o g y
- C o n c e p t s s u c h a s s e l f - e f f i c a c y d e r i v e d f ro m t h e b ro a d e r t h e o r y o f s o c i a l
learning; Bandura, 1977, 1986)

Rehabilitation •
-
Micro-theories
re s e a rc h i s re p l e t e w i t h t h e o re t i c a l e x p l a n a t i o n s o f f a i r l y d i s c re t e , w e l l -
Psychology -
defined behavioral phenomena
Kindness Norm (Robert Kleck (1966, 1968)
- Illness Intrusiveness ( Devins & Shnek, 2000)

• Explanatory models
- m o d e l s a re u s e d t o e x a m i n e , d e s c r i b e , o r e v e n t e s t a l i m i t e d r a n g e o f
b e h a v i o r o r t o d e m o n s t r a t e a s i n g l e p ro c e s s o r e v e n s o m e a s p e c t o f a
p ro c e s s
- D i s a b i l i t y - s t re s s - c o p i n g m o d e l ( Wa l l a n d e r a n d Va r n i ' s ( 1 9 9 2 ) )
 • Conducted researches were characterized by a
thoughtful, reasonable extension of prior theory or
research

• each contribution can be characterized by an

Theory-Driven impressive research program, initially stimulated
by the originators, but readily extended in
Research in systematic research programs conducted by
Rehabilitation colleagues with little or no working relationship
with the originators.
Psychology
• theoretical contributions developed from relatively
humble beginnings, occasionally with small sample
sizes, and usually with little – if any – external
funds to support the researchers.
 Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary practice

Psychological
Theories in Integration of Psychological theories

Multidisciplinary
Research Issues:
No mentioned of theory development from
psychological perspectives, or for
programmatic research informed by
psychological theories
 A hallmark of science is the rigorous testing
of theory, so that existing knowledge is
appropriately scrutinized, modified and
refined (Popper, 1963).
Psychological
Theories in
Multidisciplinary Theory can inform evidence-based practice
and provide clinicians with an array of
Research empirically-supported techniques (Ingram,
Hayes, & Scott, 2000).
 • Finding and Framing Research
Questions
• Issues of Setting: Lab versus Clinic
Creating a • Learning from Research, Learning
from Practice
Research • Grantsmanship, Policy-Relevant
Program: Issues Research, and Theory-Driven
and Opportunities Scholarship
 • Pick good exemplars

• Identify key variables and relationships among

them in order to develop a theoretical narrative
Practical • Where possible, link the psychological to the
Guidance for behavioral

Establishing a • Articulate a theory's prediction clearly and

Research Program completely

• Accept the inherent limitations of any theory

• Take baby steps at first, then step out as the

theory allows and the data support
 • Continue to use quantitative and
experimental methods whenever possible

• Be more open to qualitative methods

Toward Better
• Use more than one method in order to
Theorizing in advance theory
Rehabilitation
• Compare and test competing theories
Psychology against one another

• Seek collaborative ventures

 Rehabilitation psychologists can capitalize
on the field's history of real-world vigor by
refocusing their efforts toward developing
rigorous, comprehensive theories for
Theory in predicting and explaining the course of
rehabilitative experiences.
Rehabilitation
Research: Vigor
with Rigor
 Advocate for theory-driven research
programs that embrace a methodological
pluralism, which will in turn advance new
theory, produce meaningful research
CONCLUSION programs that inform practice, and realize
the goals of this special issue of
Rehabilitation Psychology —advances in
research and methodology.
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PROM ISE OF TH EORY IN REH A B IL ITATI ON PSYC HOLOGY
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