Ch. 4-Intro to Theory Development Lecture
-Theory established nsg as a profession
-Provides specialized body of knowledge to base nsg practice
-Articulates goals and values
-Aid in new innovations
-Organize current knowledge and make new discoveries
*Organized system of Ideas: includes concepts/definitions, propositions,
assumptions, and models help to develop theory
*Theory explains, describes, or predicts phenomena
Phenomena:
-Aspect of reality
-Describes an idea about an event, situations, or group of situations
-Ex: Pts with IBD have exacerbations and admissions, multiple medications,
meds difficult to store or administer
Concepts are defined theoretically or operationally
-Theoretical: theory specific, describes and explains phenomena
-Operational: permits observation/measurement, IDs empirical indicators of
concept
Concept is term/group of terms used to describe phenomena
*Ex: Phenomena: people who travel from one time zone to another may
experience changes in sleep or eating habits
Concept: jet lag
Propositions
-Concepts are combined to create theoretical statements that describe the
real world
-These statements provide connections (LINKS) between concepts (BUILDING
BLOCKS) to build theories
-Specific type of theoretical statement in that they describe a relationship
between or among 2 concepts
-Tentative statements about reality
-Describe relationship between events, situations, and actions
Assumptions
-Statements that form the basis for defining concepts and framing.
Propositions
, -Accepted as truths
-Represent values/beliefs
-Considered based on adequate empirical evidence to support propositions
-Implicit or explicit
Models
-helps illustrate dynamic process in theories
Key Terms:
-Different levels of theories from grand to descriptive
-Concepts/conceptual definitions
-Propositions
-Hypotheses
-Assumptions
-Models
Overview of Theory Dev:
-Refers to processes or methods used to modify or refine a theory
-Contains stages or phases from conceptual inception to research
-begins with one or more concept derived from within a method, theory or
philosophy
-Concepts are refined and related to another in propositions/statements
which can be tested empirically
Categorization of Theory
-Based on scope/level/abstraction
*Metatheory (most philosophical/abstract), grand, middle range, practice
a. Metatheory: process of generating knowledge and debating broad issues
related to nature, types of theory needed, and criteria for theory/evaluation
b. Grand: relatively abstract, not operationally defined, attempt to
explain/describe very specific human response and experience
i. Conceptual frameworks with broad perspectives
c. Middle: contain fewer concepts, limited in scope; clear and testable
hypotheses
d. Practice: micro theories, prescriptive, situation specific; least complex with
fewest concepts
i. limited to certain populations or fields of practice; use knowledge
from other disciplines
ii. PP depression, infant bonding etc
-Based on purpose
-Theory established nsg as a profession
-Provides specialized body of knowledge to base nsg practice
-Articulates goals and values
-Aid in new innovations
-Organize current knowledge and make new discoveries
*Organized system of Ideas: includes concepts/definitions, propositions,
assumptions, and models help to develop theory
*Theory explains, describes, or predicts phenomena
Phenomena:
-Aspect of reality
-Describes an idea about an event, situations, or group of situations
-Ex: Pts with IBD have exacerbations and admissions, multiple medications,
meds difficult to store or administer
Concepts are defined theoretically or operationally
-Theoretical: theory specific, describes and explains phenomena
-Operational: permits observation/measurement, IDs empirical indicators of
concept
Concept is term/group of terms used to describe phenomena
*Ex: Phenomena: people who travel from one time zone to another may
experience changes in sleep or eating habits
Concept: jet lag
Propositions
-Concepts are combined to create theoretical statements that describe the
real world
-These statements provide connections (LINKS) between concepts (BUILDING
BLOCKS) to build theories
-Specific type of theoretical statement in that they describe a relationship
between or among 2 concepts
-Tentative statements about reality
-Describe relationship between events, situations, and actions
Assumptions
-Statements that form the basis for defining concepts and framing.
Propositions
, -Accepted as truths
-Represent values/beliefs
-Considered based on adequate empirical evidence to support propositions
-Implicit or explicit
Models
-helps illustrate dynamic process in theories
Key Terms:
-Different levels of theories from grand to descriptive
-Concepts/conceptual definitions
-Propositions
-Hypotheses
-Assumptions
-Models
Overview of Theory Dev:
-Refers to processes or methods used to modify or refine a theory
-Contains stages or phases from conceptual inception to research
-begins with one or more concept derived from within a method, theory or
philosophy
-Concepts are refined and related to another in propositions/statements
which can be tested empirically
Categorization of Theory
-Based on scope/level/abstraction
*Metatheory (most philosophical/abstract), grand, middle range, practice
a. Metatheory: process of generating knowledge and debating broad issues
related to nature, types of theory needed, and criteria for theory/evaluation
b. Grand: relatively abstract, not operationally defined, attempt to
explain/describe very specific human response and experience
i. Conceptual frameworks with broad perspectives
c. Middle: contain fewer concepts, limited in scope; clear and testable
hypotheses
d. Practice: micro theories, prescriptive, situation specific; least complex with
fewest concepts
i. limited to certain populations or fields of practice; use knowledge
from other disciplines
ii. PP depression, infant bonding etc
-Based on purpose
