The authors draw up a conceptual framework for applied research on health services based on the experiences of the Division of Health of the Department of Social Medicine of the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. They hope that by using this framework, people involved will be able to situate themselves in a process of this type, interpret the current role of research on health services and examine the approach that should be taken to it in the future. They bring in some elements of self-criticism in the hope of contributing to the development of research groups in this area.