Literature Review and Theoretical Framework Flashcards
Where is the literature review found within a research paper?
At the beginning of the research.
What are the objectives of a literature review?
Determines what is known and not known about a problem, subject, or concept
Determines gaps, consistencies and inconsistences
Helps to identify conceptual frameworks used to examine problems
May uncover new practice interventions and/or provides rationale for current and proposed interventions, protocols and policies
Helps generate useful research questions and hypotheses of interest to nursing
Helps determine appropriate research design, methodology, and analysis based on earlier reports.
Determines need for replication of study or refinement (eg other targer populations)
Synthesises strengths and weaknesses of earlier reports in a concise manner
Provides rationale and clinical significance for new research endeavors (research proposals)
What is conceptual literature?
Theoretical
Conceptual frameworks
Integrative reviews (literature reviews)
What are the sources for conceptual literature?
Books
Chapters
Journal articles
What is data-based literature?
Empirical literature
Research literature
Scientific literature
What are the sources for data-based literature?
Journal articles, abstracts in conference proceedings, professional/government reports, dissertations
What are some questions you should ask when critiquing a literature review?
Is the literature review organized to demonstrate the progressive development of ideas through previous research?
What is the state of current knowledge? Is a knowledgeable gap clearly identified?
What concepts are included in the review?
Is the literature relevant? Is the literature current?
Are sources paraphrased/organized for logical flow?
What are theories?
Viewpoints or ways of perceiving
Principles to explain, predict, and control phenomena
Not discovered; they are created and invented
Perspectives on truth and reality
What is a conceptual or theoretical framework?
A brief explanation of a theory or those portions of a theory to be tested in a study
What are some conceptual/theoretical frameworks common in nursing? (6 examples)
Health Locus of Control Theory of Reasoned Action Health Belief Model Coping (Lazarus) Hardiness Stress (Selye)
What is the relationship of theory to research?
Is a set of interrelated concepts (building blocks) that structure a systemic view of phenomena for the purpose of explaining or predicting outcomes.
Guides practice and research
Practice allows testing of theory and generates questions for research
Research contributes to theory-building establishing practice guidelines
Hence, what is learned through practice, theory and research interweaves to create knowledge fabric of the discipline of nursing.
What are two rules of thumb for conceptual models/frameworks? (Where does the framework appear in a research study?)
When researchers use quantitative inquiry & deductive reasoning, framework often appears at beginning of paper before discussion
When researchers use qualitative inquiry & inductive reasoning, framework often appears at the end of the paper in discussion section
How do conceptual theoretical frameworks keep research on track?
Providing clear links from the literature to the research goals and questions
Informing the research design
Providing reference points for discussion of the methodology and analysis of the data
Contributing to the trustworthiness of the study.
What are the functions of a framework?
Clarifies concepts
Identifies and states underlying assumptions of a study
Specifies relationship among and between concepts
A conceptual or theoretical model is a visual symbolic representation of the concepts in a framework
What are some questions to ask when critiquing theoretical frameworks?
Is the framework clearly presented, or must the reader deduce the framework?
Is a particular theory or model identified as the framework?
Does the framework describe and define the concepts of interest?
