Health psychology research advances theory by addressing problems: illustrations from theory-based studies of health professional behaviour

Although problem-driven research needs good theory, such research can also advance theory. While many would agree with this assertion, it is perhaps worthwhile to reflect on how such advances might happen and to consider examples from health psychology that take theory forward. Applied research in psychology is the use of theories and methods of psychology to solve real-world problems, but theoretical problem-driven research is more than that. An important test of whether theories ‘work’ is whether their assumptions and hypotheses stand up to scrutiny in real-world settings. Some recent and current research investigating the behaviour of health care professionals illustrates some of these tests and advances.