Use of pragmatism to explore women's experiences of traumatic brain injury: a kaleidoscopic view of the world.

BACKGROUND

Although more men than women sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), approximately one quarter of people with TBIs are women. The experiences of TBI reported in the literature are informed from the masculine perspective and do not adequately represent women's experiences. Pragmatism provides an overarching methodological framework to explore and critique a broader perspective of health, including psychosocial, cultural, spiritual, political and environmental factors, while attempting to address gender inequity.

AIM

To describe the philosophical background validating the use of pragmatism to research women's experiences of TBI.

DISCUSSION

Given the limited understanding of the interplay of socially constructed barriers with the complex impairments women have following TBI, a novel approach to research is required. Pragmatism offers a way to incorporate critical thinking and advocacy into research designs.

CONCLUSION

The critical feminist transformative framework presented in this paper demonstrates the strengths of using pragmatism as a framework to explore complex phenomena.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This paper illustrates how methodology, which is influenced by various philosophical perspectives, can be woven throughout the design of a research project.