Theory and Theory development Flashcards
A systematic explanation of an event in which constructs and concepts are identified and relationships are proposed and predications made
A system of interrelated propositions used to predict, explain, understand, and control a part of the empirical world
Theory
What distinguishes disciplines from other disciplines?
The unique theories and perspectives used by a specific discipline
Why are theories beneficial for disciplines?
Clarify basic assumptions and values
Define the nature and purpose of
practice
What are 2 differences between laws and theories?
Theories are invented in response to an event, laws are discovered
Laws cannot be changed, but a theory can
What are theories composed of? (3 things)
A purpose
Concepts and their definitions
Statements (propositions, laws, axioms, generalizations, hypotheses) *Can either be existential or relational
An occurrence or a circumstance that is observed, something that impresses the observer as extraordinary, or a thing that appears to and is constructed by the mind.
Phenomenon
Declaration that a relationship of some kind exists between two or more concepts.
Relational statements
What are the two types of relational statements?
Causal
Associational/correlational
T/F Correlation equals causation
False
Define Correlational statement
Reflects the strength and direction of a relationship between variables
The association between height and weight
Example of causal statement would be…
Smoking causes lung cancer
Declaration that a given concept or relationship exists. It makes an “it is” claim
Existential statements
Statements that explain the relationship between the concepts
Propositions
A proposition about the relationship between concepts in a theory that has been repeatedly validated. Found primarily in disciplines that deal with measurable phenomena (chem, physics). They are rarely found in social and human sciences.
Laws
Tentative suggestions that a specific relationship exists between 2 concepts or propositions. It can be repeatedly confirmed in order to create empirical generalizations and laws.
Hypotheses
Beliefs about phenomena that one must accept as true to accept a theory about the phenomena as true. May be based on accepted knowledge or personal beliefs and values.
Assumption/axiom
A broad statement that applies to many examples is called a….
Generalization
Theories vary according to what 3 things?
-number of elements,
- characteristics and complexity of the elements
- type of relationships among the elements
The initial work of nursing theorists aimed at clarifying what from the act of accomplishing the task?
the complex intellectual and interactional domains in expert nursing practice
The use of theory fosters what 3 things?
- An ability to communicate professional convictions
- Guides ethical action
- Fosters critical thinking
What are the variables that are tested in research when they become operationalized?
Concepts
What are propositions? What do they deal with?
The statement about any connection between 2 or more concepts (which are tested to prove said relationship, and uses a hypothesis or testable statement)
Deals with concepts, and is not tested
T/F propositions are always right
False, they can be wrong because of the reliance of belief (bias of researcher) vs tested data
Laws are…
Statements that describe or predict a range of phenomena behave as they appear in nature
reflect causal relationships fundamental to reality
They are testable and generalizable and narrower than a scientific theory
What are the 3 purposes of nursing theories in creating nursing knowledge?
Provide structure and organization for nursing knowledge
Describe, explain, and predict phenomena of importance to nursing
Define and clarify nursing and distinguishes it from other caring professions
Name the 6 Stages of theory development
Silent Knowledge
Received Knowledge
Perceived Knowledge
Subjective Knowledge
Procedural Knowledge
Constructive Knowledge
Integrated Knowledge
Blind obedience to medical authority, Little attempt to develop theory. Research was limited to collection of epidemiologic data
Stage 1: Silent knowledge
History of nursing knowledge - Silent Knowledge stage
Early, early years:
West – Florence Nightingale (1860’s Crimean War)
East – Rufaida Bent Saad al-Aslamiya (Koaiba Bent Saad) – nursed the sick/wounded during the Prophet Mohammed’s Wars, said to have set up first Muslim school for nurses (570 AD)
Knights Templar – male nurses – Middle Ages / Crusades
Learning through listening to others
Theories were borrowed from other disciplines. As nurses acquired non-nursing doctoral degrees, they relied on the authority of educators and social scientists to provide answers to nursing problems. Research was primarily education or sociological research
Stage 2: Received knowledge
The received knowledge stage occured throughout which years in history?
1940-1960
The received knowledge stage focused on the _______ model
Apprenticeship
The received knowledge stage developped the _______ ____ of nurses: What do they do?
Functional role
What became the curriculum for nurses during the received knowledge stage?
“How to”
What led to theory development in the received knowledge stage?
Teaching and education
Authority was internalized to foster a new sense of self
A negative attitude toward borrowed theories and science emerged
Nurse scholars focused on defining nursing and developing theories about and for nursing
Stage 3: Perceived Knowledge
Standardization began during which years of the perceived knowledge stage?
1920’s
In the perceived knowledge stage, scholarship of ______ dominates the research agenda, but ______ is occurring
Teaching, evolution
In the procedural knowledge stage, there was a recognition of what for nursing programs?
That research is needed to prove that education worked, they needed evaluation of programs
In the procedural knowledge stage, what was established for nursing papers?
A criteria for review
The criteria of review for nursing papers consisted of what 4 things?
Universality, community, objectivity, detached scrutiny
Stage 4: Procedural Knowledge
Includes both separate and connected knowledge
Proliferation of approaches to theory development. Application of theory in practice was severely underemphasized. Emphasis was placed on the procedures used to acquire knowledge, with focused attention to the appropriateness of the methodology, the criteria for evolution, and statistical procedures for data analysis
Throughout which years was the history of knowledge in the procedural stage?
1970 - 1985
During the procedural stage, nursing theoriests used _______ ______ to guide theory
External paradigms
In the procedural stage of the history of nursing knowledge, there was a separation between which 3 things?
Practice, research, theory
In the procedural stage of the history of nursing knowledge, there was a search for what?
conceptual coherence
T/F, In the procedural stage of the history of nursing knowledge other disciplines affected the development of nursing theories
True
In the procedural stage of the history of nursing knowledge, theorists were still focused on ____ as opposed to ____
teaching, practice
One theory to describe an entire discipline led to what kind of theories? Were these possible to use?
Highly abstract and/or reductionist theories
These were impossible to accept or use
In which stage of nursing knowledge development was the metaparadigm of nursing defined?
Procedural stage
Combination of different types of knowledge
Recognition that nursing theory should be based on prior empirical studies, theoretical literature, client reports of clinical experiences and feelings, and the nurse scholar’s intuition or related knowledge about the phenomenon of concern
Stage 5: Constructed Knowledge
In the constructed knowledge phase, the nature of what 2 things were discovered?
The nature of nursing knowledge (Carper)
Nature of inquiry
The constructive knowledge phase coincided with which 2 views?
Postmodern and philosophical
“Let’s get rid of it all” Is a statement that best describes which stage of nursing knowledge development?
Constructive stage
T/F the constructive phase is still in existence
True
Assimilation and aplication of evidence from nursing and other healthcare disciplines
Nursing theory will increasingly incorporate information from published literature with enhanced emphasis on clinical apllication as situation-specific/ practice theories and mid-range theories
Stage 6: Integrated Knowledge
T/F Integrated knowledge is no longer in practice today
False
Stage of integrated knowledge includes what 3 types of knowledge?
Theoretical, philosophical, clinical
The focus of the integrated knowledge phase was…
Domain of nursing and its phenomena
Organization of education around ________________ as opposed to ______________
Integrated areas of practice, distinct areas of practice
2 Other stages of knowledge are…
The Stage of information and technology, Stage of interdisciplinary
EHR
Robotics (OR and treatments)
Tele-homecare
Telemedicine
Self-care and technology
Health literacy
You are living it.
Stage of information and technology
Members of different disciplines working together
Using theory and research findings to care for multi-dimensional problems seen
Reflects nature and complexity of science today
Stage of inderdisciplinary
What are 7 reasons why theories are important in nursing?
Identify standards for nursing practice
Identify the setting in which nursing practice should occur, and recipients of what author considers to be recipients of the care
Identify distinct processes and technologies nurses should use (assessment, identifying the problem, intervention strategies, topology, criteria for evaluation)
Direct delivery for nursing care
Clinical information systems
Development of client classification systems
Direct quality assurance projects
Nursing theories can be classified by _____ or ______
Scope, type
The 4 scopes of nursing theory include…
Metatheory, grand theory, mid-grange theory, practice theory
“Theory about a theory”
Philosophical -
worldview (perceived versus received)
Nature of health & illness at a higher and broader level
Appropriate level of theory
Methodological –
Processes to engage in
Theory evaluation (to assess its usefulness, etc.)
Knowledge development
Metatheory
Most complex – attempt to explain the BROAD areas within a discipline
Characteristics:
- Non-specific
- Relatively abstract concepts and propositions
- Are not testable
- May incorporate other theories
Grand Theory
Less broad
Limited number of concepts
Focus on limited aspect of reality
Propositions may be tested
Middle Range Theory
Called microtheories, prescriptive theories, situation-specific theories
Least complex; contain fewest concepts
Refer to specific, easily defined phenomena
Limited to specific populations or fields of practice
Often use knowledge from other disciplines
Practice Theory
The 4 types of nursing theory include…
D.E.P.P
Descriptive
Explanatory
Predictive
Prescriptive
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 theory
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 Theory
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 Theory
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 theory
A metaparadigm is…
The most global perspective of a discipline
The primary phenomena that are of interest to a discipline
Explains how the discipline deals with phenomena in a unique manner
How does our metaparadigm set us apart from other disciplines?
we describe what we do as a profession through the use of these paradigms
The 4 main concepts of the metaparadigm are…
Health
Person
Environment
Nurse
Person, health, and environment all relate to the _________________________, while nursing focuses on the ______
Recipient of nursing care and actions, nurse
Person refers to a…
Being consisting of physical, intellectual, biochemical and psychosocial needs
Human energy field
Holistic being
Open system
Integrated whole
Being who is greater than the sum of his parts
Health is….
The CLIENT’s perception of…
The ability to function independently
Successful adaptation to life’s stressors
Achievement of one’s full life potential
Unity of mind, body, and soul
Health is the concept reflecting greatest diversity in nursing theory
Environment is…
External elements that affect the person
Internal and external conditions that influence the organism
Significant others with whom the person interacts
An open system with boundaries that permit the exchange of matter, energy, and information (Rogers)
Homeostasis=internal environment
Nursing is…
A science, art, and practice discipline.
Goals of nursing include:
Care of the well
Care of the sick
Assisting with self-care
Helping individuals attain their human potential
*Nursing actions and interventions
