Table 1 Considerations for using theory in health professions education research

1. Consider theory comprehensively and critically

i. Clarify interpretations and terminology associated with theory including what theory means to you

ii. Seek suggestions about theory from research supervisors/mentors, experienced research colleagues, your professional networks, and/or social media

iii. Engage with theories from other disciplines (e.g., social psychology, sociology, education, philosophy, organisational, and economics etc.), cultural settings, and those that are less well established in the HPE literature, and with original sources of theory

iv. Collate, deconstruct, and discuss examples of theory use, including how other researchers situated in the same paradigm or using a similar methodology use theory

v. Question theory—where is a theory from and what are its philosophical and cultural foundations, how has it developed and evolved, who is using it and how, and what are its strengths and limitations?

vi. Keep current with new developments, debates, and discussions regarding theory

2. Consider the alignment between paradigm and theory

i. Reflect on and articulate your paradigm (philosophical stance) as a researcher, and how it interacts with theory

ii. Consider the philosophical foundations of your chosen theory (or multiple theories)

3. Consider the interplay between methodology and theory

i. Consider the philosophical foundations of your chosen methodology and how it interacts with theory

ii. Reflect on if you intend to build new theory or extend existing theory

4. Consider the fit between theory and unit of analysis

i. Identify the level (micro, meso, macro) at which you will examine the research phenomena of interest

ii. Clarify if your research is seeking to apply a critical or emancipatory theoretical lens in terms of examining the impact of power, race, gender, politics, history, and culture

5. Consider when theory is used in the research process and associated implications

i. Identify whether theory is to be used deductively (from the outset) or inductively (at the analysis stage)

ii. If deductively, outline how theoretical constructs inform the research aims and/or question/s, data collection, and analysis

iii. If inductively, outline how theory has informed the analysis

6. Consider the complexities of how theory is written up

i. Identify if any adaptations were made during the use of theory

ii. Identify how a theory has been extended or challenged through the research

iii. If a new theory has been generated, consider how it can be written up in a way that links to existing theory

iv. Acknowledge the complexities of balancing theory-in-use and reconstructed theory

v. Consider a fit-for-purpose placement of theory in writing up research