Theory and Policy Innovation for Health: where has the creativity and fun gone?

Abstract

Recently, I attended one of those weekly research seminars. The presenter was a newly appointed research professor with many competitive grants and international consultancies under his belt. In explaining what had taken him to such leading stature in his field, he proudly announced that he ‘… never let research be clouded by theory.’ I had to think of one of Kurt Lewin's famous maxims, ‘If you want to understand something, try changing it.’ Indeed, action before understanding sometimes is a promising approach to innovation. Yet, the same Lewin also said something about the practicality of theory.