Chapter 5 Applying Appropriate Theories and Conceptual Models

Question 1

Borrowed theories

Answer 1

1. Theories taken from other disciplines and applied to nursing questions and research problems.
2. Useful, but the fit and relevance to nursing must be clarified and should be clearly articulated within the study.
3. Examples: Theories from sociology; theory of planned behavior; operant conditioning; germ theory and principles of infection; gate control theory of pain management.

Question 2

Concepts

Answer 2

1. Symbolic statements describing a phenomenon or a class of phenomena.
2. Theoretical definition - the concept is defined in relation to other concepts (i.e., in relation to a theory).
3. Operational definition - identifies empirical indicators of the concept, which permits observation and measurement.
4. Examples: Hypertension; stress; airplane; fatigue; mobility; job satisfaction.

Question 3

Conceptual model

Answer 3

1. A set of abstract and general concepts that are assembled to address a phenomenon of interest. Sometimes referred to as theoretical framework or conceptual framework.
2. Represents ideas or notions that have been put together in a unique way (framework) to describe a particular area of concern.

Question 4

Constructs

Answer 4

1. Higher-level concepts that are derived from theories and that represent nonobservable behaviors.
2. Examples: Motivation, intelligence, anxiety, self-concept, achievement, and aptitude.
3. May be comprised of two or more concepts: Illness vs. infection; cardiovascular status vs. hypertension.

Question 5

Deductive approach

Answer 5

1. An approach to reasoning that generates theory by beginning with known facts, moving from the general to the specific. It is an approach used to test predictions (hypotheses) and validate existing relationships.
2. Moving from an idea to observations - a testing-oriented approach.
3. Laws > theories > concepts > facts > empirical observations.

Question 6

Grand theories

Answer 6

1. Theories that are complex and broad in scope. Grand theories attempt to explain broad areas and include numerous concepts that are not well defined and that have ambiguous and unclear relationships.
2. Global and attempt to explain everything about a subject.
3. Because these theories are not grounded in empirical data, they are usually not useful guides for nursing practice.
4. Examples: Roy adaptation model; Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory; Neuman systems model; Watson’s theory of human caring.

Question 7

Inductive approach

Answer 7

1. An approach to reasoning that involves collecting observations that lead to conclusions or hypotheses. This approach moves from specific observations to general statements that can be tested through research.
2. Moving from observations to an idea - a discovery-oriented approach.
3. Empirical observations > facts > concepts > theories > laws.

Question 8

Metaparadigm

Answer 8

Refers to the primary or central phenomena that are of interest to a particular discipline.

Question 9

Middle-range theories

Answer 9

1. Theories that look at a piece of reality and that contain clearly defined variables in which the nature and direction of relationships are specified.
2. Purpose is to describe, explain, and predict phenomena; unlike grand theories, they are explicit and testable.
3. Have clear propositions from which hypotheses can be derived.
4. Examples: Pender’s health promotion model; Benner’s model of skills acquisition in nursing; Mishel’s theory of uncertainty in illness; Kolcaba’s theory of holistic comfort.

Question 10

Nursing theory

Answer 10

A specific and concrete set of concepts and propositions that accounts for or characterizes phenomena of interest to the discipline of nursing.

Question 11

Practice theories

Answer 11

1. Theories that are more specific than middle-range theories and that produce specific directions or guidelines for practice.
2. Also known as prescriptive theories; contain few concepts and are easily understandable; usually narrow in scope, limited to specific populations, and explain a small aspect of reality.
3. Examples: Theories of caring, empowerment, and communication; theories of clinical inference and clinical decision making; theories of suctioning, wound care, rest, and learning; theory of end-of-life decision making; theory of heart failure self care; theory of caucasians’ cancer pain.

Question 12

Theory

Answer 12

1. An organized and systematic set of interrelated statements (concepts) that specify the nature of relationships between two or more variables, with the purpose of understanding a problem or nature of things.
2. Offers a view of reality for the purpose of describing, explaining, or predicting the phenomena of interest.
3. Provides the structure for a research study, allowing the researcher to generalize beyond a specific situation and make predictions about what should happen in other, similar situations.

Question 13

Researchers bring empirical findings into meaningful patterns that take the form of _

Answer 13

Theories.

Question 14

Framework

Answer 14

The conceptual underpinnings of a study. Used interchangeably with “theoretical framework”, “conceptual framework” and “conceptual model.”

Question 15

Inductive research underlies _ approaches to inquiry.

Answer 15

Qualitative.

Question 16

Deductive reasoning helps to unveil _

Answer 16

Existing relationships.

Question 17

Nursing’s four metaparadigm concepts

Answer 17

1. Person - the individuals, families, communities, and other groups who are participants in nursing.
2. Environment - a person’s significant others and physical surroundings, as well as the setting in which nursing occurs.
3. Health - the person’s state of well-being at the time that nursing occurs.
4. Nursing - the definition of nursing, the action taken by nurses on behalf of or in conjunction with the person, and the goals or outcomes of nursing actions.

Question 18

Nursing has recognized _ as appropriate for defining or refining the substantive component of nursing science and practice.

Answer 18

Middle-range nursing theories.

Question 19

_ are the building blocks of a theory.

Answer 19

Concepts.

Question 20

Compared to theories, conceptual models are _

Answer 20

Loosely structured.

Question 21

Conceptual models of nursing

Answer 21

1. Provide direction for a study and present nursing in relation to the four central metaparadigm concepts (i.e., person, environment, health, nursing).
2. Frame the way in which nursing will be viewed and the direction a research study will take.
3. Advantage is that the researcher views a study from a nursing perspective from the beginning.

Question 22

A theoretical framework, if used, should be mentioned/discussed _

Answer 22

1. In the problem statement (briefly).

2. At the end of the literature review, under its own heading.

Question 23

Concepts are selected for a theoretical framework based on _

Answer 23

Their relevance to the phenomenon of interest.

Question 24

Each concept included in the framework needs to be defined _

Answer 24

Conceptually and operationally in the methods section of the research report.

Question 25

Nursing knowledge can be acquired through _

Answer 25

Inductive and deductive reasoning.

Question 26

_ is the idea that knowledge comes from experience.

Answer 26

Empiricism.

Question 27

Which scientific method focuses on testing hypotheses developed from theory?

Answer 27

Deductive.

Question 28

Which of the following is characteristic of good theory or explanation? (It is parsimonious; It is testable; It is general enough to apply to more than one person, place, or situation; All of the above)

Answer 28

All of the above.

Question 29

Theoretical definition vs. operational definition

Answer 29

1. Theoretical/conceptual definitions define/explain concepts in the context of theory/theoretical literature: “Childhood obesity is excess adiposity among children ages 2 to 18 years old.”
2. Operational definitions define how concepts are measured to assess their presence and the amount/degree to which they exist: “Childhood obesity exists when a child has a BMI > 95th percentile for their age and gender (2 to 18 years).”