Rehabilitation medicine summit: building research capacity (executive summary)

Connecting with clinicians: opportunities to strengthen rehabilitation research

PURPOSE

This article examines the distinctive opportunities and challenges involved in connecting with clinicians to strengthen rehabilitation research.

METHOD

The relevant literature on various factors that link researchers and clinicians is summarized and discussed.

RESULTS

Links between researchers and clinicians are demonstrated by evidence-based practice, common conceptual background and the development of research capacity. Sustainable partnerships can evolve throughout the research process by using various enduring strategies such as experts' committee as well as novel approaches like communities of practice.

CONCLUSION

This paper reflects the conviction that reducing the gap between research and clinical practice will be facilitated by implementing partnerships originating from both researchers and clinicians.

The Place and Promise of Theory in Rehabilitation Psychology

OBJECTIVE: Although rehabilitation psychology is more focused on empirical evidence and clinical application than theory development, we argue 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. We offer suggestions by reviewing research settings, knowledge gained through controlled studies, grantsmanship, and then identify topical areas where new theories are needed. We remind researcher-practitioners that rehabilitation psychology benefits from a judicious mix of scientific rigor and real-world vigor. CONCLUSIONS: We close by advocating for theory-driven research programs that embrace a methodological pluralism, which will in turn advance new theory, produce meaningful research programs that inform practice, and realize the goals of this special issue of Rehabilitation Psychology-advances in research and methodology.