Chapter 3 PP/Lecture
Links among constructs, concepts, and variables
-Theoretical framework: abstract, logical structure of meaning that guides
the development of the study and enables the reader to link findings to body
of knowledge in research
a. Quantitative research
b. Outcomes research-sometimes in qualitative
c. Rarely in mixed methods
Intro of Terms
-Theory: set of defined concepts and relational statements that provide
structured way to think about phenomena
-Scientific theories or laws: theories for which repeated studies have
validated relationships among concepts
-Middle range Theories (substantive): less abstract, address more specific
phenomena than grand theories, applied directly to practice
-Concept: term abstractly describes and names object/phenomena/idea
providing it with a distinct identity or meaning
-Construct: concept with high level of abstraction under which several
smaller concepts cluster
-Relational Statement: explanation of connection between or among
concepts
-Conceptual model (grand theory): set of highly abstract, related
constructsexplains phenomena of interest, expresses assumptions, reflects
philosophical stance
-Phenomena: thing happening to the pt that the nurse care about (Ex:
discomfort in ICU)
-Concept: idea used to understand/explain it (Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory)
Ex: Construct—Emotional responses
Concept—Anxiety or grief
Variable—palmar sweating (anxiety) or score on grief scale (grief)
3 Forms of Simple Statement
-Language Form: social support and spirituality influence coping
-Diagram (arrows/lines)
Forms of Complex Statement
, -Language: When social support and spirituality exceed (or is greater than)
perceived stress, effective coping occurs
Direction
-Direction of relationship may be positive, negative, or unknown
-Positive linear relationship: as one concept changes (amt
increases/decreases), the 2nd changes in same direction
-Negative linear relationship: as one concept changes, the other changes in
opposite direction
-Unknown: due to lack of study or conflicting results
Middle Range Theories
-Closer to day to day substance of clinical practice, less abstract
-Guides practitioner to understand client’s behavior, allowing for effective
interventions
-Substantive or practice theories
-Used more commonly than grand theories as frameworks for research
Appraising Theories and Research Framework
-Identify framework
-Describe constructs, relationships, concepts
-Examine logical structure
-Assess whether substantive or gratuitous (did it do it’s job?)
-Evaluate extend to which framework guided methodology
-Decide extent to which the researcher connected the findings to the
framework
Analyzing Concepts
-Process by which we examine a concept
a. Examine literature for uses of concept
b. Look for similarities/differences among uses of concept
c. Look for structure and fxn
d. Clarify meaning of terms and define concepts so there’s shared language
e. Determine antecedents, attributes, and consequences of concept
Ex: What makes a tree a tree or a rose a rose?
^Decide what attributes are essential to define concept
Concepts contact within themselves attributes or characteristics that make
them unique from other concepts
Links among constructs, concepts, and variables
-Theoretical framework: abstract, logical structure of meaning that guides
the development of the study and enables the reader to link findings to body
of knowledge in research
a. Quantitative research
b. Outcomes research-sometimes in qualitative
c. Rarely in mixed methods
Intro of Terms
-Theory: set of defined concepts and relational statements that provide
structured way to think about phenomena
-Scientific theories or laws: theories for which repeated studies have
validated relationships among concepts
-Middle range Theories (substantive): less abstract, address more specific
phenomena than grand theories, applied directly to practice
-Concept: term abstractly describes and names object/phenomena/idea
providing it with a distinct identity or meaning
-Construct: concept with high level of abstraction under which several
smaller concepts cluster
-Relational Statement: explanation of connection between or among
concepts
-Conceptual model (grand theory): set of highly abstract, related
constructsexplains phenomena of interest, expresses assumptions, reflects
philosophical stance
-Phenomena: thing happening to the pt that the nurse care about (Ex:
discomfort in ICU)
-Concept: idea used to understand/explain it (Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory)
Ex: Construct—Emotional responses
Concept—Anxiety or grief
Variable—palmar sweating (anxiety) or score on grief scale (grief)
3 Forms of Simple Statement
-Language Form: social support and spirituality influence coping
-Diagram (arrows/lines)
Forms of Complex Statement
, -Language: When social support and spirituality exceed (or is greater than)
perceived stress, effective coping occurs
Direction
-Direction of relationship may be positive, negative, or unknown
-Positive linear relationship: as one concept changes (amt
increases/decreases), the 2nd changes in same direction
-Negative linear relationship: as one concept changes, the other changes in
opposite direction
-Unknown: due to lack of study or conflicting results
Middle Range Theories
-Closer to day to day substance of clinical practice, less abstract
-Guides practitioner to understand client’s behavior, allowing for effective
interventions
-Substantive or practice theories
-Used more commonly than grand theories as frameworks for research
Appraising Theories and Research Framework
-Identify framework
-Describe constructs, relationships, concepts
-Examine logical structure
-Assess whether substantive or gratuitous (did it do it’s job?)
-Evaluate extend to which framework guided methodology
-Decide extent to which the researcher connected the findings to the
framework
Analyzing Concepts
-Process by which we examine a concept
a. Examine literature for uses of concept
b. Look for similarities/differences among uses of concept
c. Look for structure and fxn
d. Clarify meaning of terms and define concepts so there’s shared language
e. Determine antecedents, attributes, and consequences of concept
Ex: What makes a tree a tree or a rose a rose?
^Decide what attributes are essential to define concept
Concepts contact within themselves attributes or characteristics that make
them unique from other concepts
