THEORIES & NURSING RESEARCH
Introduction
- RESEARCH – Process of inquiry
- THEORY – Product of knowledge
- SCIENCE – Result of the relationship between
research & theory
To effectively build knowledge to research
process should be developed within some
theoretical structure that facilities analysis and
interpretation of findings.
Relationship between theory and research in
nursing is not well understood. It may be give to
the relative youth of the discipline and debates
over philosophical world views. (Empiricism,
constructivism, etc…)
Need to Link Theory
and Research
- Research without theory results in discreet
information or data which does not add to the
accumulated knowledge of the discipline.
Theory guides the research process, forms the
research questions, aids in design, analysis and
interpretation.
It enables the scientist to weave the facts
together.
Theories from
Nursing or Other Disciplines?
- Nursing science is blend of knowledge that is
unique to nursing and knowledge that is borrowed
from other disciplines.
- Debate is whether the use of borrowed theory
has hindered the development of the discipline.
- It has contributed to problems connecting
research and theory in nursing.
Historical
Overview of Research and Theory in Nursing
- Florence Nightingale supported her theoretical
propositions through research, as statistical data
and prepared graphs were used to depict the impact
of nursing care on the health of British soldiers.
- Afterwards, for almost century reports of
nursing research were rare.
- Research and theory developed separately in
nursing.
- Between 1928 and 1959 only 2 out of 152 studies
reported a theoretical basis for the research
design.
- In 1970’s growing number
of nurse theorists were seeking researchers to
test their models in research and clinical
application
- Grand nursing theories
are still not widely used. In 1990’s borrowed
theories were used more.
- Now the focus of
research and theory have moved more towards middle
range theories
Purpose of
Theory in Research
- To identify meaningful and relevant areas for
study.
- To propose plausible approaches to health
problems.
- To develop or refine theories
- Define the concepts and proposed relationships
between concepts.
- To interpret research findings
- To develop clinical practice protocols.
- Generate nursing diagnosis.
Types of theory and
corresponding research
|
Type of
theory |
Type of
research |
-
Descriptive
-
Explanatory
-
Predictive
|
-
Descriptive or explanatory
- Co
relational
-
Experimental
|
How Theory is
used in Research
Causal theory
of planned behaviour
Theory
Generating Research
-
It is designed to develop and describe
relationships between and among phenomena without
imposing preconceived notations.
-
It is inductive and includes field observations
and phenomenology.
-
During the theory generating process, the
researcher moves by logical thought from fact to
theory by means of a proposition stated as an
empirical generalization.
Grounded Theory
Research
- Inductive research technique developed by
Glazer and Strauss (1967)
Grounded theory provides a way to describe what
is happening and understanding the process of why
it happens.
Methodology – The researcher observes, collects
data, organizes data and forms theory from the
data at the same time.
Data may be collected by interview,
observation, records or a combination of these
techniques.
Data are coded in preparation for analysis.
- Category development – Categories are
identified and named
Category saturation – Comparison of similar
characteristics in each of the categories
Concept development – Defines the categories
Search for additional categories – Continues to
examine the data for additional categories
Category reduction – Higher order categories
are selected
Linking of categories – The researcher seeks to
understand relationships among categories
Selective sampling of the literature
Emergence of the core variable – Central theme
are focus of the theory
Concept modification and integration –
Explaining the phenomenal
Theory testing
research
- In theory testing research, theoretical
statements are translated into questions and
hypothesis. It requires a deductive reasoning
process.
- The interpretation determines whether the study
supports are contradicts the propositional
statement.
- If a conceptual model is
used as a theoretical framework for research it is
not theory testing.
- Theory testing requires
detailed examination of theoretical relationships.
Theory as a conceptual framework
- Problem being investigated is fit into an
existing theoretical framework, which guides the
study and enriches the value of its findings.
- The conceptual definitions are drawn from the
framework
- The data collection instrument is congruent
with the framework.
- Findings are interpreted in light of
explanations provided by the framework.
- Implications are based on the explanatory power
of a framework.
A Typology
of Research
Guidelines for writing about a research study’s
theoretical framework
Conclusion
The relationship between research and theory is
undeniable, and it is important to recognize the
impact of this relationships on the development of
nursing knowledge. So interface theory and
research by generating theories, testing the
theories and by using it as a conceptual framework
that drives the study.
Reference
-
George B. Julia , Nursing Theories- The base
for professional Nursing Practice , 3rd
ed. Norwalk, Appleton and Lange.
-
Polit
DF, Hungler BP. Nursing Research: Principles and
Methods. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott Company;
1998.
-
Burns N, Grove SK. The
practice of Nursing Research. 4th Ed.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders Publications; 2001.
-
Treece JW, Treece EW. Elements
of Research in Nursing (3rded.). St. Louis: Mosby;
1982.
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