Fourth generation evaluation, the paradigm revolution and health promotion.

Abstract

The author argues that two events are inextricably linked:first, the increasing disenchantment with the conventional paradigm for conducting science, and second, the changing conceptions of health. With respect to the latter, medical professionals are increasingly moving away from disease as an indicator of health and moving toward conceptions of wellness, and away from a cure model and toward a prevention model. The paper demonstrates what the new inquiry paradigm looks like and what its synergisms are with newer constructions of human health, and finally concludes with additional problems which must be noted.