Occupational Science for Occupational Therapy articulates how occupational science research produces unique insights into occupation and increases the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions. This text illustrates the four key types of knowledge now being researched in occupational science: descriptive, relational, predictive, and prescriptive. This text also offers a comprehensive review of occupational science’s history of emergence from the needs and interests of occupational therapy, conflicting origins and intents, and ongoing development as a discipline within academia.

In Occupational Science for Occupational Therapy, Dr. Doris Pierce and an outstanding group of occupational scientists explain how their discoveries build the science and support practice. A rich variety of methods and perspectives mark the work of these career scientists as they respond to the knowledge base needs of occupational therapy.

This fully evidence-based text also brings the research experience alive for occupational therapy students, describing the passions, challenges, and choices that are the reality of research as an occupation. All research chapters discuss how findings build both science and practice, including learning supports in which students can try out research activities, explore assessment, or develop interventions. Most importantly, Occupational Science for Occupational Therapy provides new and experienced practitioners a thorough exploration of the latest research in occupation-based practice.

Occupational Science for Occupational Therapy synthesizes key works by occupational scientists, including a foreword by Dr. Elizabeth Yerxa, founder of the science. Occupational therapy and occupational science students, practitioners, and faculty will especially appreciate this book’s comprehensive coverage of work by current leaders of research on occupation-based practice.