A global participatory process to structuring the field of health promotion research: An introduction

Abstract

While health promotion has developed mainly as professional and advocacy practices, a growing number of research contributes to the health promotion knowledge base. To support further professional development of health promotion, there is a need to structure health promotion research as a distinct field. Global Handbook of Health Promotion Research aims to map the various health promotion research practices, to provide a usable resource for health promotion research and to contribute to the creation of a shared identity for health promotion researchers. Designed as a collaborative project, this handbook is mainly composed of chapters written by individuals and groups in response to an open call for contributions. The chapters illustrate research practices and reflect on their epistemological and ethical dimensions. The final product comprises three distinct volumes. Volume 1, Mapping Health Promotion Research, offers an overview on the diversity of health promotion research practices conducted around the world. Volume 2, Framing Health Promotion Research, written by the editors, proposes a framework for a distinct field of health promotion research. Volume 3, Doing Health Promotion Research, provides introductory-level presentations of paradigms, strategies of inquiry and methods associated with, and contributing to, health promotion research.