Subtle Realism and Occupational Therapy: An Alternative Approach to Knowledge Generation and Evaluation

Occupational therapists are increasingly engaging in research. As this occurs, important and challenging questions are being asked about the most appropriate research approaches to use. Strongly held perspectives of what best constitutes evidence often conflict with influential hierarchies of research. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy has, in recent years, published a variety of papers and letters that have presented and defended effectively the differing perspectives of research approaches. Each of these has presented challenges to occupational therapy research. This opinion piece supports a combinist approach to research. It presents and defends such an approach from a subtle realist perspective.