A pragmatist approach to the problem of knowledge in health psychology

Citation

Cornish F & Gillespie A (2009) A pragmatist approach to the problem of knowledge in health psychology. Journal of Health Psychology, 14 (6), pp. 800-809. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105309338974

Abstract
The multiplicity of forms of health-related knowledge, including biomedical knowledge, lay knowledge, and critical constructionist knowledge, raises challenges for health researchers. On one hand, there is a demand for a pluralist acceptance of the variety of health-related knowledge. On the other, the need to improve health calls for action, and thus for choices between opposing forms of knowledge. The present article proposes a pragmatist approach to this epistemological problem. According to pragmatism, knowledge is a tool for action and as such it should be evaluated according to whether it serves the desired interests. We identify implications for research methodology and the choice of research goals.

Keywords
Pragmatism; Methodology

Journal
Journal of Health Psychology: Volume 14, Issue 6