Overview of theories Flashcards
It is the unique theories and perspectives used by a
discipline that distinguishes it from other disciplines.
Overview of Theory
Theories of a discipline
Clarify basic assumptions and values
Define the nature and purpose of
practice
A systematic explanation of an event in which constructs
and concepts are identified and relationships are
proposed and predictions made
Theory
A system of interrelated propositions used to predict,
explain, understand, and control a part of the empirical
world
Theory
Are composed of concepts, propositions, and laws; can
be communicated
Theories
Vary according to the number of elements,
characteristics and complexity of the elements, and type
of relationships among the elements
Theories
Are invented rather than discovered
Theories
a tentative suggestion that a
specific relationship exists between two concepts or
propositions.
hypothesis
Theory provides structure and organization for nursing
knowledge.
Theory in nursing
Theory provides systematic means of collecting data to
describe, explain, and predict phenomena of importance
to nursing.
Theory in nursing
Theories define and clarify nursing and distinguish it from
other caring professions.
Theory in Nursing
Identify certain standards for nursing practice
❖
Identify settings in which nursing practice should occur
and the characteristics of what the model’s author
considers recipients of nursing care
❖Identify distinctive nursing processes and technologies to
be used, including parameters for client assessment,
labels for client problems, a strategy for planning, a
typology of intervention, and criteria for evaluation of
intervention outcomes
Uses of Theory in Nursing #1
❖Direct the delivery of nursing services
❖Serve as the basis for clinical information systems,
including the admission database, nursing orders, care
plan, progress notes, and discharge summary
❖Guide the development of client classification systems
❖Direct quality assurance programs
Uses of Theory in Nursing #2
beliefs about phenomena that are
accepted as true
assumptions
abstract elements of a phenomenon necessary
to understand it
concept
complex concepts; comprises more than one
concept and built or “constructed” to fit a purpose
construct
specific and concrete identifiers of
concepts; method used to observe or measure the
concept(s)
empirical indicator
graphic or symbolic representation of a
phenomenon
model
organizing framework that contains concepts,
theories, assumptions, beliefs, values, and principles that
form the way a discipline interprets the subject matter
with which it is concerned
paradigm
a statement of beliefs and values about
human beings and their world
philosophy
indicate specific relationships
between two or more concepts; may be propositions,
hypotheses, laws, or theorems
relationship statements
o Nurses were trained in hospitals.
o Education was controlled by the hospital
and doctors.
o Education and practice were based on
tradition, rules, and principles and focused
on technical skills.
o Apprentice form of education
Silent knowledge stage (1870s–1940s)
o Serious nursing shortage
o Hill-Burton Act increased the need for nurses.
o Nursing for the Future published—promoted
nursing education in universities
Received knowledge stage (1945–1960)
o Testing for registration began.
o Nursing Research first published
o Books on nursing research and theory were
published.
o Slow growth of graduate education—nurses
questioning practice
Received knowledge stage (1945–1960)
o Dickoff et al. published articles on theory
development and theory for a practice
discipline.
o Number of nursing theorists grew.
Subjective knowledge stage (1960–1970)
o Nursing viewed as an academic discipline
o Theories became the framework for nursing
education.
o More nursing theories were published.
Procedural knowledge stage (1970–1985)
❖Procedural knowledge stage (1970–1985)—
o What are the consensus developed regarding the common
elements of nursing?
▪ Person or client (man)
▪ Health
▪ Nursing
▪ Environment
o What are the Books published on Procedural knowledge stage (1970–1985)?
▪ Theory evaluation/critique
▪ Theory application
▪ Theory construction
Graduate courses on nursing theory implemented
Procedural knowledge stage (1970–1985)
o Incorporation of philosophy of science courses into
graduate programs
o Development of middle range and practice
theories
Constructed knowledge stage (1985–2010+)
o Increasing focus on “evidence-based practice”
o Continued development of middle range and
situation-specific theories
o Attention to “translation” of research in practice
Integrated knowledge stage (2010–Present)
theory about theory
metatheory
In nursing, metatheory focuses on broad issues.
o What are the philosophical issues
-Philosophical worldviews (perceived view vs.
received view)
▪ Nature of health and man; purpose of nursing
▪ Appropriate level of nursing theory
In nursing, metatheory focuses on broad issues.
o What methodological issues
▪ Processes of theory evaluation
▪ Processes of knowledge development
o Most complex and broad theories
o Attempt to explain broad areas within a discipline
Grand theories
What are the characteristics of grand theory
▪ Nonspecific
▪ Composed of relatively abstract concepts and
propositions
▪ Are not generally amenable to testing
▪ May incorporate other theories
o More circumscribed than grand theories
o Contain a limited number of concepts that are
operationally defined
o Focus on a limited aspect of reality
o Propositions may be tested through research.
Middle range theories
o A description of a particular phenomenon
o An explanation of the relationship between
phenomena
o Prediction of the effects of one phenomenon or
another
Middle range theory
o Called microtheories, prescriptive theories, situationspecific theories
o Least complex; contain fewest concepts
o Refer to specific, easily defined phenomena
o Limited to specific populations or fields of practice
o Often use knowledge from other disciplines
Practice Theories
❖Describe, observe, and name concepts
❖Do not explain how or why concepts are related
❖Provide observation and meaning regarding phenomena
❖Generated and tested through descriptive research
Descriptive Theories—Factor Isolating
❖Relate concepts or propositions to one another
❖Attempt to explain how or why concepts are related
❖Focus on correlations or rules that regulate interactions
❖Developed through correlational research
Explanatory Theories—Factor Relating
❖Explicate conditions under which concepts are related
and relational statements are able to describe future
outcomes consistently
❖Experimental research is used to generate and test them.
Predictive Theories—Situation Relating
❖Prescribe activities necessary to reach defined goals
❖Address actions and predict consequences of
interventions
❖Describe the prescription (action or intervention),
consequence, type of client, and condition
Prescriptive Theories—Situation
Producing
Issues in Theory Development in Nursing
❖Borrowed versus unique
❖Metaparadigm
the most global perspective of a
discipline
metaparadigm
The primary phenomena that are of interest to a
discipline
metaparadigm
Explains how the discipline deals with phenomena in a unique manner
metaparadigm
o Domain is distinctive from other disciplines.
o Encompass all phenomena of interest to the
discipline
o Are perspective-neutral (concepts and propositions
do not represent a specific perspective or worldview)
o Must be international in scope and substance (do not
reflect national, cultural, or ethnic beliefs and values)
Characteristics of a metaparadigm
Most scholars and theorists consider that nursing’s
metaparadigm consists of the concepts of:
o Person and health
o Person and environment
o Health and nursing
o Person, environment, and health
o Being consisting of physical, intellectual, biochemical,
and psychosocial needs
o Human energy field
o Holistic being
o Open system
o Integrated whole
o Being who is greater than the sum of his or her parts
Person
o The ability to function independently
o Successful adaptation to life’s stressors
o Achievement of one’s full life potential
o Unity of mind, body, and soul
Health
the concept reflecting greatest diversity in
nursing theory.
health
o External elements that affect the person
o Internal and external conditions that influence the
organism
o Significant others with whom the person interacts
o An open system with boundaries that permit the
exchange of matter, energy, and information
Environment
is a science, art, and practice discipline.
nursing
Goals of nursing include:
o Care of the well
o Care of the sick
o Assisting with self-care
o Helping individuals attain their human
potential
