Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing

by Lorraine Walker, Kay Avant

Overview

For courses in nursing theory.

The clearest, most useful introduction to theory development methods
Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing provides a straightforward, logically organized resource on theory development, from a nursing perspective. It places theory development in the context of both a rich history tracing back to the mid-20th century and of contemporary and emerging issues. Present-day coverage includes population- and domain-specific theories addressing the needs of diverse clients. Reflecting vast changes in nursing practice, the 7th edition covers advances both in theory development and in strategies for concept, statement, and theory development. It also builds further connections between nursing theory and evidence-based practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780134754079
Publisher:	Pearson Education
Publication date:	03/29/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

About our authors

Lorraine O. Walker, RN, EdD, MPH, FAAN, has had a lifelong interest in nursing knowledge development and maternal and infant health. She received a BSN from the University of Dayton, as well as a master's degree in nursing education with a specialization in maternity nursing, and a doctoral degree in philosophy of education from Indiana University-Bloomington. She also received an MPH degree in maternal-child health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed post-doctoral studies in educational psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. She currently holds the Luci B. Johnson Centennial Professorship in Nursing. Her teaching includes global health; quantitative design and analytic methods; and theoretical and philosophical aspects of nursing. Her research focuses on health promotion of childbearing-aged women and infants. Dr. Walker was honored in 2017 by induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.

Kay C. Avant, PhD, RN, FNI, FAAN, retired as Professor Emeritus in 2016. She has also had a lifelong interest in nursing knowledge development and maternal-infant health. She received her diploma in nursing from Methodist Hospital, Dallas; her BSN from Texas Christian University; her MSN from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; and her PhD from Texas Woman's University. She completed post-doctoral work in community and school health nursing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Her teaching included philosophy of science, theoretical development of nursing and informatics. Her research interests are primarily in standardized language development, and global health of women and children.

Table of Contents

Brief Table of Contents

PART 1: OVERVIEW OF THEORY AND THEORY DEVELOPMENT
1. Theory in Nursing: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
2. Using Knowledge Development and Theory to Inform Practice
3. Approaches to Theory Development

PART 2: DERIVATION STRATEGIES
4. Concept Derivation
5. Statement Derivation
6. Theory Derivation

PART 3: SYNTHESIS STRATEGIES
7. Concept Synthesis
8. Statement Synthesis
9. Theory Synthesis

PART 4: ANALYSIS STRATEGIES
10. Concept Analysis
11. Statement Analysis
12. Theory Analysis

PART 5: PERSPECTIVES ON THEORY AND ITS CREDIBILITY
13. Assessing the Credibility and Scope of Nursing Knowledge Development: Concepts, Statements, and Theories


Detailed Table of Contents

PART 1: OVERVIEW OF THEORY AND THEORY DEVELOPMENT

1. Theory in Nursing: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
Theory Development in Nursing: A Beginner's Guide
A Historical Glimpse at Theory in Nursing as a Profession
Evolution of Theory Development: Metatheory to Practice Theory
Population- and Domain-Focused Theories and Models
Global Nursing Theory Development Issues and Efforts
Summary
References
Additional Readings

2. Using Knowledge Development and Theory to Inform Practice
Introduction
Evidence-Based Practice and Practice-Based Evidence
Nursing Informatics
Nursing Practice Research and Theory Development
Summary
Practice Exercise
References
Additional Readings

3. Approaches to Theory Development
Introduction
Elements of Theory Building
Interrelatedness of Elements
Approaches to Theory Building
Strategy Selection
Interrelatedness of Strategies
Summary
References
Additional Readings

PART 2: DERIVATION STRATEGIES

4. Concept Derivation
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Concept Derivation
Application of Concept Derivation to Nursing
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Concept Derivation
Summary
Practice Exercise
References

5. Statement Derivation
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Statement Derivation
Application of Statement Derivation to Nursing
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Statement Derivation
Summary
Practice Exercises
References
Additional Readings

6. Theory Derivation
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Theory Derivation
Examples of Theory Derivation
Application of Theory Derivation to Nursing
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Theory Derivation
Summary
Practice Exercises
References
Additional Readings

PART 3: SYNTHESIS STRATEGIES

7. Concept Synthesis
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Approaches to Concept Synthesis
Procedures for Concept Synthesis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Concept Synthesis
Summary
Practice Exercises
References
Additional Readings

8. Statement Synthesis
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Statement Synthesis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Statement Synthesis
Summary
Practice Exercise
Self-Assessment Test of Introductory Statistics
References
Additional Readings

9. Theory Synthesis
Definition and Description
Example of the Use of Theory Synthesis Process
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Theory Synthesis
Illustrations of Theory Synthesis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Theory Synthesis
Theory Synthesis and Integrative Models and Theories
Summary
Practice Exercises
References
Additional Readings

PART 4: ANALYSIS STRATEGIES

10. Concept Analysis
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Concept Analysis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Concept Analysis
Response to Criticism of this Method
Summary
Additional Example and Practice Exercise
Practice Exercise
References
Additional Readings

11. Statement Analysis
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Steps in Statement Analysis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Statement Analysis
Summary
Practice Exercises
References
Additional Readings

12. Theory Analysis
Definition and Description
Purpose and Uses
Procedures for Theory Analysis
Advantages and Limitations
Utilizing the Results of Theory Analysis
Summary
Practice Exercise 1
Practice Exercise 2
References
Additional Readings

PART 5: PERSPECTIVES ON THEORY AND ITS CREDIBILITY

13. Assessing the Credibility and Scope of Nursing Knowledge Development: Concepts, Statements, and Theories
A Glance at Concept, Statement, and Theory Testing
Concept Testing
Statement Testing
Theory Testing
The Scope of, and Central Concerns, in Nursing Knowledge
Closing Commentary
References
Additional Readings

Preface

When this book was originally written, there was a need for the whys and hows of theory development to be expressed in nursing language. Extant texts written by sociologists and psychologists failed to translate theory development into a nursing context. Through theory development, it was widely believed, nurses affirmed the academic status of nursing and informed their practice. Thus, theory development became a distinct and valued activity.

A decade later, the state of nursing theory development and its place in academic and practice endeavors has changed dramatically. Theory development has been transformed into an activity that takes many forms, occurs at a variety of levels of abstraction, and permeates each facet of nursing. No longer is theory needed to justify and demarcate nursing: that debate has moved to higher ground. The substance of grand theories and/or conceptual models has shown that a variety of characterizations of nursing is possible, and probably desirable. Each has highlighted particular facets of the complex knowledge base needed to understand and practice nursing. In addition, phenomenon-focused theories and a host of qualitative methods have emerged and shown their value in advancing nursing theory development. In quantitatively-oriented research, as well, there is the expectation that such work will be theoretically guided and contribute to the evolution of theoretical knowledge pertinent to nursing. As a result, the phenomena of concern to nursing are increasingly articulated from theoretical perspectives relevant to and sometimes critical of nursing and health care.

Still, from the perspective of students beginning the study of theorydevelopment, its language is often a maze of terminology and principles that are new and confusing. To understand nursing's current theoretical state of development, each student must at least briefly-retrace at their own pace the steps their nursing predecessors have taken. As maps guide the traveler, so books guide the student. In this book we aim at the beginning student of nursing theory development. What is manifestly clear to the expert often is vague and disordered to the novice. In articulating basic strategies for theory development in nursing, we have sought to provide the guidance needed by the novice. One note of caution is needed: no matter how conscientiously a student applies a strategy, if the underlying concept is trivial, the theoretical outcome will have limited merit.

For the expert, we see the components of the strategies outlined here not as steps, but rather as a framework for assessing the completeness and orderliness of their work. Creative work has its own process. Sometimes that process is linear; other times it is not. At the end, however, the creative work must be expressed in a coherent and orderly form to be understood by others. For example, when dealing with large amounts of information, or ordering complex phenomena, the material on concept analysis or theory synthesis may prove useful in unsnarling ideas. Thus, we expect that experts will and should use this book differently from novices.

In this third edition we have attempted to portray theory development within the larger nursing context while preserving with clarity the basic strategies content. This third edition moves beyond earlier editions in several ways. First, we have incorporated recently published examples of the theory strategies. Examples are particularly abundant for concept analysis work. Second, we have striven to place theory development within the larger knowledge development process in nursing. New material reflecting this is contained in Chapter 13. Third, increasing diversity is evident in nursing's intellectual and practice spheres. We have tried to reflect this diversity by noting emergent philosophical views articulated by nurses (Chapters 1, 12, and 13) and expanding illustrative material to incorporate the diversity of clients cared for by nurses. Fourth, we have enlarged the consideration given to testing and validation theoretic work (Chapter 12). Most notable is the addition of new material on concept and statement testing. Finally, references have been updated throughout the book while taking care to preserve those references of historical importance and "classics" in the field.

Again, we thank those who contributed to this and earlier editions, especially Charles Bollinger. We acknowledge the assistance of the staff at Appleton & Lange in this current edition, especially David P. Carroll, Senior Editor, and Jennifer Sinsavich, Production Editor. We are especially grateful to two anonymous reviewers for a thorough and inspired review of the text. Finally, we also each wish to thank the other for the joy of a decade of colleagueship and especially for the chance to discuss theory development near the meandering waters of Salado.

L.W.
Austin, Texas
K.A.
Waco, Texas