Ch. 5-Theory Analysis and Evaluation-Book
Introduction
-Realized that there was a corresponding need to identify criteria or develop
mechanisms to determine if those theories served their intended purpose
-First method to describe, analyze, and critique theory was published in 1968
-Help nurses select an evaluation method for theory, which is appropriate to the stage of
theory development and for the intended application of the theory (research, practice,
administration, or education)
-Help ensure that the theory is valid and is being used correctly
-Provide information for developing and testing new theories by identifying gaps and
inconsistencies
Definition and Purpose of Theory Evaluation
-Identifies a theory’s degree of usefulness to guide practice, research, education, and
administration
-Insight into relationships among concepts and their linkages to each other and allows
the reviewer to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a theory
-Identifying the need for additional theory development or refinement
-Provides a systematic, objective way of examining a theory that may lead to new
insights and new formulations
-The ultimate goal of theory evaluation is to determine the potential contribution of the
theory to scientific knowledge
-Can provide additional knowledge about the soundness of the theory
-Help identify which theoretical relationships are supported by research, provides
guidelines for the choice of appropriate interventions, and gives some indication of their
efficacy
-Helps clarify the form and structure of a theory being tested
-Determine the relevance of the content of a theory for use as a conceptual framework
-Identify inconsistencies and gaps in the theory
-Critically reviewing a theory: AKA theory analysis, theory description, theory evaluation,
and theory critique
-Theory eval can be 1, 2, 3 phases based on the author
Theory Description
-Theory description is the initial step
-Works of a theorist are reviewed with a focus on the historical context of the theory
-Related works by others are examined
-Structural components include assumptions, concepts, and propositions
-Functional components consist of the concepts of the theory, and how they are used to
describe, explain, predict, or control
, Theory Analysis
-Second phase of the evaluation process; main aim is to understand the theory
-Systematic process of objectively examining the origins, content, structure, and
function of a theory
-See if the theory or framework has potential for being useful in practice, research,
administration, or education
Theory Evaluation
- AKA theory critique, is the final step of the process
-Assesses the theory’s potential contribution to the discipline’s knowledge base
-Ascertaining how well a theory serves its purpose
-Resulting in a decision or action about use of the theory
-Used to direct nursing practice and interventions
Historical Overview of Theory Analysis and Evaluation
-Most of the processes/methods for theory analysis and theory evaluation were implicitly
or explicitly developed to review grand nursing theories and conceptual frameworks
- Should be applicable to all levels of theory
Characteristics of Significant Theories: Ellis
- First nursing scholar
-Identified characteristics of significant theories
-Scope, complexity, testability, usefulness, implicit values of the theorist, information
generation, and meaningful terminology
-Produced the foundation
Theory Evaluation: Hardy
-evaluated according to certain universal standards
-Criteria or standards she suggested:
i. Meaning and logical adequacy
ii. Operational and empirical adequacy
iii. Testability
iv. Generality
v. Contribution to understanding
vi. Predictability
vii. Pragmatic adequacy
a. Logical adequacy (diagramming)
Introduction
-Realized that there was a corresponding need to identify criteria or develop
mechanisms to determine if those theories served their intended purpose
-First method to describe, analyze, and critique theory was published in 1968
-Help nurses select an evaluation method for theory, which is appropriate to the stage of
theory development and for the intended application of the theory (research, practice,
administration, or education)
-Help ensure that the theory is valid and is being used correctly
-Provide information for developing and testing new theories by identifying gaps and
inconsistencies
Definition and Purpose of Theory Evaluation
-Identifies a theory’s degree of usefulness to guide practice, research, education, and
administration
-Insight into relationships among concepts and their linkages to each other and allows
the reviewer to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a theory
-Identifying the need for additional theory development or refinement
-Provides a systematic, objective way of examining a theory that may lead to new
insights and new formulations
-The ultimate goal of theory evaluation is to determine the potential contribution of the
theory to scientific knowledge
-Can provide additional knowledge about the soundness of the theory
-Help identify which theoretical relationships are supported by research, provides
guidelines for the choice of appropriate interventions, and gives some indication of their
efficacy
-Helps clarify the form and structure of a theory being tested
-Determine the relevance of the content of a theory for use as a conceptual framework
-Identify inconsistencies and gaps in the theory
-Critically reviewing a theory: AKA theory analysis, theory description, theory evaluation,
and theory critique
-Theory eval can be 1, 2, 3 phases based on the author
Theory Description
-Theory description is the initial step
-Works of a theorist are reviewed with a focus on the historical context of the theory
-Related works by others are examined
-Structural components include assumptions, concepts, and propositions
-Functional components consist of the concepts of the theory, and how they are used to
describe, explain, predict, or control
, Theory Analysis
-Second phase of the evaluation process; main aim is to understand the theory
-Systematic process of objectively examining the origins, content, structure, and
function of a theory
-See if the theory or framework has potential for being useful in practice, research,
administration, or education
Theory Evaluation
- AKA theory critique, is the final step of the process
-Assesses the theory’s potential contribution to the discipline’s knowledge base
-Ascertaining how well a theory serves its purpose
-Resulting in a decision or action about use of the theory
-Used to direct nursing practice and interventions
Historical Overview of Theory Analysis and Evaluation
-Most of the processes/methods for theory analysis and theory evaluation were implicitly
or explicitly developed to review grand nursing theories and conceptual frameworks
- Should be applicable to all levels of theory
Characteristics of Significant Theories: Ellis
- First nursing scholar
-Identified characteristics of significant theories
-Scope, complexity, testability, usefulness, implicit values of the theorist, information
generation, and meaningful terminology
-Produced the foundation
Theory Evaluation: Hardy
-evaluated according to certain universal standards
-Criteria or standards she suggested:
i. Meaning and logical adequacy
ii. Operational and empirical adequacy
iii. Testability
iv. Generality
v. Contribution to understanding
vi. Predictability
vii. Pragmatic adequacy
a. Logical adequacy (diagramming)
