Quantitative study designs

The frameworks determine what people see, what they view as important, how they interpret their experience and observations and their practical and intellectual responses. Because evidence should inform practice, both researchers and educationalists need to be aware of and communicate the theoretical frameworks they use in order to reach an effective cross-fertilisation. Using theories to understand the problem, formulating a research question, and analysing or interpreting the results, allows researchers to advance the field by adding insights to existing theories. The Association for Medical Education describes four study types: justification, observational, explorative and translational studies. A theory-based intervention modelling process was used to develop and evaluate an intervention to change general practices' intentions to manage upper respiratory tract infections without prescribing antibiotics. With the theories of adult learning and self-directed learning as a background, a study was done with the aim to create a virtual patient model to enhance students' clinical reasoning, communication skills and reflection.