The use of theory in family therapy research: A content analysis of familytherapy journals

Ninety-five studies from Family Process and Journal of Marital and Family T herapy were evaluated with regard to their use of theory. While a majority of the articles were judged to rue theory in either an explicit or an impli cit manner 42% did not appear to draw on theory in either the introductory or discussion sections. Studies that used qualitative methods appeared to u se theory more frequent and explicitly than those using quantitative method s alone. Systems theory was found to be the most common conceptual framewor k, followed by feminism. We conclude that the link between theory and resea rch in family therapy needs strengthening and suggest that the lak of theor y in family therapy be reexamined.