1. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 6 Developing a Theoretical or Conceptual Context

2. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Theory An abstraction that purports to account for or explain phenomena Classical theory—An abstract generalization that systematically explains relationships among phenomena Descriptive theory—A theory that thoroughly describes a phenomenon, based on rich observations of it

3. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Theory (cont’d) Grand theory—A theory that attempts to explain large aspects of human experience Middle-range theory—A theory that focuses on a specific aspect of human experience

4. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Conceptual Models Deal with abstractions, assembled in a coherent scheme Represent a less formal attempt than theories to explain phenomena Do not have formal propositions about relationships among phenomena

5. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Framework Theoretical framework (based on theory) Conceptual framework (based on a conceptual model)

6. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Commonalities Between Theories and Conceptual Models Use concepts as building blocks Require conceptual definitions of key concepts Can be depicted in a schematic model Are created by humans Are developed inductively

7. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Commonalities Between Theories and Conceptual Models (cont’d) Cannot be proven—they are supported to greater or lesser degrees Can be used to generate hypotheses Can serve as a stimulus to research

8. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 5-Step Process for Developing Conceptual Definitions 1. Develop a preliminary definition 2. Do an in-depth literature review 3. Identify exemplary cases 4. Map the concept’s meaning 5. State the revised conceptual definition

9. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Conceptual Models of Nursing Formal explanations of what nursing practice is Four concepts central to models of nursing: Person Environment Health Nursing

10. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Conceptual Models Used Frequently by Nurse Researchers Conceptual models of nursing: Roy’s Adaptation Model Orem’s Self-Care Model Other models developed by nurses: Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory

11. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Conceptual Models of Nursing Used by Nurse Researchers

12. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Examples of Non-Nursing Models by Nurse Researchers Becker’s Health Belief Model (HBM) Lazarus and Folkman’s Theory of Stress and Coping Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

13. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins The Use of Theories or Models in Quantitative Research Testing a theory Testing two competing theories Using a theory/model as an organizing structure Fitting a problem into theory Developing an original theory/model

14. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Theories in Qualitative Research Substantive theory—conceptualizations of the target phenomena Theory embedded in a research tradition  Grounded theory (symbolic interactionism)  Ethnography (cultural theories: ideational and materialistic)  Phenomenology (phenomenological theory of human experience)

15. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Examples of Questions to Assess a Model or Theory Clarity: Are key concepts defined? Are definitions clear? Complexity: Is the theory sufficiently rich? Overly complex? Grounding: Is there an empirical basis for the theory?

16. Copyright © 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Examples of Questions to Assess a Model or Theory (cont’d) Appropriateness: Are key concepts within the domain of nursing? Importance: Will testing the theory contribute to nursing’s evidence base? Competition: Are there theories that better explain the key phenomenon?