Deck 4: Theory As Practice

Question 1

Which statement about a theory is false?

A) Theory is multifaceted, complex, and dynamic.
B) There is one widely accepted definition of what theory is and is not.
C) Theory falls into two broad categories--commonsense and scientific.
D) The overarching goal of theory is to explain phenomenon.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which statement most likely does not describe a commonsense theory?

A) The other students in your class have more free time because they study less than you do.
B) All of your professors are involved in a plot to overthrow the president of your university.
C) You haven't heard from your sister lately because she is busy studying for her final exams.
D) The number of hours spent studying for exams, a student's willingness to ask questions, and completion of course homework are directly related to the final grade.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which phrase does not describe one of the three main goals of scientific theory?

A) Separation of theory from practice
B) Description of a phenomenon being studied
C) Prediction about future relationships
D) Explanation that "makes sense" of observed events

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which analogy most accurately defines scientific theory?

A) Scientific theory definitively describes practice in much the same way that a dictionary definitively describes the meanings of different words.
B) Scientific theory components are combined in different ways to produce different theories in much the same way that beads are strung together in different ways to produce different necklaces.
C) Scientific theory represents only the thought-based aspects of a discipline (rather than the action-based aspects) in much the same way that a flag represents the physical entity of a country (rather than its individual people).
D) Scientific theory components are specific to only one particular theory in much the same way that a key is specific to one particular lock.

Question 5

Which question would be least appropriate to ask if you were interested in examining health promotion from a scientific theory perspective as opposed to another type of perspective?

A) What influences health behavior among older adults?
B) Why is education level associated with certain outcomes?
C) What is the ultimate end of health promotion?
D) Do attitudes lead to behavior change among adolescents?

Question 6

What is the common element of both commonsense and scientific theories?

A) Cause-and-effect questioning
B) Universal law development
C) Meaning attribution
D) Personal sense-making with daily applications

Question 7

Which phrase is not one of the four steps upon which theory and practice is built by healthcare professionals?

A) Questioning the status quo
B) Seeking plausible and meaningful answers
C) Applying a pluralistic approach to theory understanding
D) Building narrative structure for questions and answers

Question 8

You are having a discussion about individual responsibility for wellness with a friend who is a behavioral science major. As the discussion proceeds, you find that he is having a hard time understanding the basic components of the theory you are presenting. Which statement represents the most likely explanation for his misunderstanding?

A) He is approaching the theory from a different context than the one in which it was created.
B) The narrative you have developed for the theory is not fully developed and is confusing as a result.
C) He does not have the background in the basic sciences necessary for understanding the more technical components of the theory.
D) Your understanding of the theory is incomplete and you are unable to provide a coherent explanation of it.

Question 9

Which theoretical context would be most likely to be concerned with healthy community living?

A) Western ethics theory
B) Public policy theory
C) Nursing theory
D) Behavioral science theory

Question 10

Freire's proposed relationship between theory and practice most closely aligns with which Aristotelian experience-knowledge pairs?

A) Theoria and epistme
B) Praxis and phronesis
C) Epistme and phronesis
D) Theoria and praxis