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Whats a Theory or Model?
HSci310 - Principles of Nursing Research
M.E.F.Highfield
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Key Nursing Concepts?
Nursing
Person
Environment
Health
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What is a theory or model? Concepts / Constructs (e.g., Nursing,
Person,
Environment, Health, self-care deficit)
Propositions (e.g., statements about the relationships)
Theories & Models = systematic explanation oflarge chunks of
reality. They are composed ofconcepts/constructs &
propositions.
What is difference between theory & model? Theory explains
more Model may be pictures or words
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Example: Einsteins theory of relativity
"It followed from the special theory of relativity that massand
energy are both but different manifestations of thesame thing -- a
somewhat unfamiliar conception for theaverage mind. Furthermore,
the equation E is equal to m c-squared, in which energy is put
equal to mass, multiplied
by the square of the velocity of light, showed that ve rysmall
amounts of mass may be converted into a very largeamount of energy
and vice versa. The mass and energywere in fact equivalent,
according to the formulamentioned above. This was demonstrated by
Cockcroft and
Walton in 1932, experimentally."
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Example:
Leiningers
Sunrise
Model of
Culture Care
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Components of Theories/Models
Concepts
Conceptual definitions
Operational definitions
Propositions are
Statements about how concepts arerelated
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Concepts/Constructs (like single words)
An abstraction basedon [shared] behaviors
or characteristics
(Polit & Beck)
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Concepts/Constructs
Must be translated intomeasurable variables
Sports
One act plays
Toys
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Propositions =Statement of the Relationship Between Concepts
Concepts (like words) Propositions (like sentences)
Childs play is a
simple, easy activity
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Models= Propositions + Propositions
(Models are like paragraphs that are
composed of sentences)
MODEL: Childs play includes
activities that are simple and easy
for adults. Building with blocks,
running, and learning the alphabet
are childs play. For children such
childs play is a way to meet
Eriksons task of industry vs.inferiority.
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So..Stop & Check
Concepts are____________
Conceptual definitions are__________.
Operational definitions are _________.
Propositions are
Statements about how concepts arerelated
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Framework: Theory or Model
A theoretical or conceptual framework for aresearch study states
the main conceptsinvestigated in the research project &
describes the
expected relationships between the concepts.
EVERY study has one!
In your own research abstract/article what arethe main
ideas?
How are those main ideas related?
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Nursing or Borrowed or Shared?
Orem? Maslow?
Travelbee?
Lazarus & Folkman?
Health Belief Model?
(pp.158-161, Polit & Beck)
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What is the link between these 3.
Theory
Research
Practice
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Theory-Research-Practice Link
Research is either theory/model
Building or
Testing
QUALitative research is theory _______.
QUANTitative research is theory______.
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Theory-Research-Practice Link
Which type of reasoning supports
Qualitative research (theory building)
Quantitative (theory testing)
Inductive reasoning is _____.
Deductive reasoning is _____.
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Exercise
Critique your study
using the criteria in
Polit & Beck, Box8.1, p. 166
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Key Reference
Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T.Essentials of
nursing research: Methods, appraisal, and
utilization(6th ed.). Philadelphia:Lippincott, Williams, &
Wilkins.
