THEORIES, MODELS &
USING,TESTING IN NURSING
RESEARCH
PRESENTED BY
MS. SANJEETA BHAGAT
MSC. NURSING IST YEAR
GOVT.COLLEGE OF
NURSING JAGDALPUR
(C.G)
INTRODUCTION
They provide explicit frames of reference for
professional nursing practice by identifying who
the care recipient is, what the relevant
environment is and what aspects of health are to be
considered. The other hand, specify innovative
goals for nursing practice, they also give ideas to
improve practice and coordinate care.
MEANING OF THEORY
The word theory comes form the Greek word
theoria (meaning 'vision"). However, the word
theory has a number the context of distinct
meanings in different fields of knowledge,
depending on their methodology and the context of
discussion.
DEFINITION
A theory is defined as an integral set of concepts
and statements presenting a view of a phenomenon
that can be used to describe, explain predict, and
control that phenomenon. In other words, a theory
is a set of concepts and propositions that provide
an orderly way to view a phenomenon.
(Kelinger, 1973)
Conti…
A theory is a set of pre-related construct
(concepts), definitions, and proposition is that
present a systematic view of phenomenon by
specifying relations among variables with the
purpose of explaining and
predicting the phenomenon.
Conti…
Theory is a set of interrelated concepts that provide
a systematic view of a phenomenon. It provides a
foundation and structure that may be used for the
purpose of explaining or predicting
another phenomenon.
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
The theoretical framework is a collection of
interrelated concepts that depict a piece of theory
to be examined as the basis from research studies.
There are the foundation that guides the research.
It presents a broad, general explanation of the
relationship between the concepts of the research
study, based on an existing theory.
To construct a theoretical framework, an exiting
theory is used to establish the relationship between
the study concepts.
EXAMPLE
A research is conducted on the topic "A study on
adaptation of patients with chronic pain. Here, the
researcher may develop a theoretical framework to
establish the relationship between study concepts
using Roy's Adaptation Model.
AN EXAMPLE OF THEORITICAL
FRAMEWORK:-
This theoretical Framework was based on a single
middle-range theory Epidemiological Triad as a
depicted in below:-
Assessment of pin site care
(frequency, use of cleansing solution, care of crust,
use of ointments, type of dressing used, clean/
sterile procedure.
Environments maintained
arround pins by pins care site.
Epidemiological
traid
conti…
Pathogenic A patient with
microorganism external fixation
Assessment of host
(demographic profile,
Culture and smoking habits, hb
sensitivity test of levels, TLC, RBS,
pin- site discharge prophylactic
antibiotics, sign &
symptom of pin site
infection.
This model is used in many studies to draw the
concepts and establish the relationship among
agent, host, and environment in causation of
diseases. This model explains the factors
responsible for any illness that may be tied agent,
host, and environment, and referred to as
“epidemiological triad”.
Interaction these three factors-agent, host, and
environment .
In this example of research study, it was assumed
that every patient with external skeletal fixation does
not develop pin-site infection, but only some patients
with this device develop pin site infection, which
depends on the agent, host and environment factors.
Agent:- An agent is defined as a substance, living
being or a force (tangible or intangible) the excess or
relative lack of which may initiate or perpetuate an
illness process. An illness agent may be a single agent, a
number of independent alternative agents, or a
complex of two or more factors, the combined presence
of which is responsible for the development of illness.
Host:- In epidemiological terminology, the human
host is referred to as soil and illness agent as seed.
Here, host is referred to a patient with external
skeletal fixation susceptible to develop pin-site
infection. Demographic profile, smoking habits,
haemoglobin level, total leukocyte count, and
random blood sugar levels of the patients with
external skeletal fixation were included as host
factors in the study. Host was assessed to identify
these factors and for presence or absence of pin-
site infection.
Environment:-The concept of environment is
defined as all that surrounds the individual human
host, living or non-living, natural or man-made,
with which he or she is in constant interaction.
In this study, the concept of the environment was
taken as a man-made environment around the pin-
site by pin-site care. It was assessed by observation
of pin-site care practices as they were performed.
NATURE & CHARACTERISTICS OF
THEORIES
Theory and research have a strong mutually
beneficial link, where theories are developed and
tested by empirical evidences generated through
research.
These are basically classified based on the nature
of phenomenon explained and describe in the
study. Generally, theories are classified into three
broad categories.
Grand theory
They address a broad range of phenomena in the
environment or in the experience of human beings.
For example, Maslow's Hierarchy of Need theory.
The grand theories are also known as macro-
theories. There are several grand theories in
nursing, and they offer explicit distinct explanation
of nursing from medicine and other health science
disciplines. The grant nursing theories primarily
address the nurse, nursing, its nature, goals and
mission of nursing practices. Some of the grand
theories of nursing are:
Conti…
Florence Nightingale: Nightingale's 'Environmental
Theory' (1860)
Rosemarie Rizzo Parse: Theory of Human
Becoming (1981, 1992)
Virginia Henderson: Theory of Nursing Needs
(1960) Behavioral System Model for Nursing (1990)
Dorothy Johnson: The Martha E Rogers. Nursing:
A Science of Unitary Human Beings (1970, 1990)
Dorthea Orem: The Self Care Deficit Nursing
Theory (2001)
Callista Roy: Roy Adaptation Model (2009)
Betty Neuman: The Neuman Systems Model (1995)
Middle-Range theories
They are less abstract and narrower in scope than
grand theories.
They tend to be more closely linked to clinical
practices and research than conceptual models
and, thus, have a greater appeal to nurse clinicians
and clinical nurse researchers Middle-range
theories may emerge from the review of studies for
the purpose of building evidence-based practices
related to a particular clinical problem.
Middle-range the can also be used as the
framework of a study, thus contributing to their
own validation.
Conti..
Health Promotion Model (Pender, Murdaugh,
Parsons, 2006)
The Theory of Uncertainty in Illness (Mishel,
1998, 1990, 1999)
Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (Lenz et al.,
2009) Theory of Holistic Comfort (Kocaba, 1994,
2009)
Theory of Resilience (Polk, 1997)
Theory of Health Promotion in Preterm Infants
(Mefford, 2004)
Micro-theories
Micro-theories describe, explain, or provide
understanding of the patient's experiences of
specific phenomenon. They are also known as
specific theories or prescriptive theories.
For example
Im and Meleis (1999) adapted Schumacher and
Meleis's transition theory (1994) into a situation-
specific theory of menopausal transition in Korean
women to give 'more focused guidelines for clinical
practices with this particular population of women.
Some examples of situation-specific theories in
nursing are:-
Theory of the Peaceful End of Life (Ruland &
Moore, 1998)
Theory of Chronic Sorrow (Eakes, Burke &
Hainsworth, 1998)
The of Heart Failure Self-Care (Riegel & Dickson,
2008)
Asian Immigrant Women's Menopausal Symptom
Experiences in the USA (Im, 2010)
Theory of Caucasian Cancer Pain Experience (Im,
2006)
PURPOSES AND USES OF THEORIES,
MODELS & FRAMEWORK
Theories, conceptual models, and theoretical
frameworks are building blocks of a research study.
Nurse researchers have used both nursing and
non-nursing frameworks provide a conceptual
context for their studies.
These are used to describe, explain, predict, and
prescribe a phenomenon.
The purposes of theories, conceptual models, and
theoretical frameworks in nursing research are as
follows:-
Conti…
PURPOSE OF THEORIES
Theories allow research to knit observations and
facts together into an orderly scheme system.
Theories help to stimulate research and extension of
knowledge by providing both direction and impetus.
Theories provide a basis for predicting the
occurrence of phenomena.
Theories provide a mechanism for logically arriving
at new statements from the original preposition.
For example:-
consider the Reinforcement Theory, which posits
that behaviour reinforced, tends to be repeated,
and learned, through it we can deduce that
hyperactive children who are praised will exhibit
les acting out behaviour than similar children who
are not praised.
Purpose of Models
Models help an analyst clarify and refine a design.
Models help simplify the complexity of
information system for an analyst to focus on few
aspects of the system at a time.
Many different models can be used by the analysis
when developing a system.
Models help the analyst recall details of work
previously completed.
Purpose of Conceptual Framework
■ Conceptual framework shows the organization,
order, and direction of your research study.
■ It is an essential initial activity of your research
because by means of a schematic diagram,
explained verbally as well, it enables the readers to
obtain a general understanding of the research.
USING THEORY IN RESEARCH
Integration of theory in research or theoretical
basis for a research study must be considered at
initial stage of the research process.
Stewart and Klein (2016) identified that considered
be applied at many stages of research process,
including providing justification for the study,
formulating research questions; methodology, data
collection methods/tools and procedures and
framework for data analysis and data
interpretation. However, use of theory in research
is done in three principal.
(i) theory testing research
(ii) use of theory as research framework
(iii) theory development as an outcome of research.
USES OF THEORY IN QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH
The use of research in quantitative research could be
an entire separate section of theory used in research
study proposal. Further more, the use of theory in
quantitative research also could be spread in
introduction, literature review, after research question
and hypotheses of study proposal. However, it is
suggested by eminent researchers that theory used
must be included as an entirely separate section in the
research proposal, so that it becomes convenient for
readers to explicitly understand the use of
Use of theory in qualitative research
The use of theory in qualitative research is much more
varied, but primarily it is either theory generating or
theory acts as a lens of the qualitative study.
In some of the qualitative research such as grounded
theory, the outcome research is the development of a
new theory.
While, in other qualitative studies such as
ethnography research theory is used in the beginning,
which a lens that guides the research question,
hypothesis and methodology of the study.
Silvia (1986) identified three different ways in which
nursing theories were incorporated in nursing
research. They are as follows:
First manner was minimal use of theory. These
studies characteristically mention the guiding
theoretical framework but neglect incorporation of
theory as a guide to testing or put- ting research
variables into operation.
In second approach concepts from theories were
used to organize the research usually for descriptive
rather than theory-testing purposes.
Cont…
Characteristics of manuscripts from these studies
include a nice overview of the theory and linkage
between the research variables and theoretical
framework or the findings implications for the
framework.
In third way, adequate use of model for theory
testing is characterized by explicit indication of
model use along with a study purpose for
determining the model's validity.
Conti…
Hypotheses are deducted clearly from assumptions
or propositions and are tested in an appropriate
manner; and research findings are analyzed in a
manner that they offer support for or against the
theory and/or possible revision to the theory.
TESTING AND DEVELOPING THEORIES
Theory testing is done through deductive reasoning
approach, where researcher proceeds from general
(theory) to specific (empirical findings).
while theory development is accomplished by inductive
reasoning process, where researcher proceeds from the
specific ( empirical findings) to the general (theory).
Theory testing is done through quantitative research
studies and some of the qualitative research studies are
considered as theory generating research such as
grounded theory. Theory testing is relatively easier then
theory generating.
Theory testing
Quantitative studies are theory testing or theory
verifying research, where theories are tested
through deductive reasoning approach. The theory
provides a framework for the quantitative study to
identify research question, hypotheses, research
methodology and data collection tools/methods
and procedure for confirmation or disconfirmation
of theory through deductive approach.
Conti…
Thus, research begins with identification of a
research question and from the theory to be tested,
and then define and operationalize the variables
derived from the theory, followed by measuring
and observing the variables (data collection) and
finally testing the hypotheses using appropriate
statistical methods to confirm or disconfirm
theory.
Evaluation of Theory-Testing Research
Action, Irvin, and Hopkins (de) built a theory
based on silvia's work by suggesting 15 specific
criteria useful to evaluate theory-testing research
studies. These are listed below:-
1. The statement of purpose specifies theoretical
testing
2. The researcher makes the underlying theory
explicit and summarizes it appropriately.
3. The researcher defines the concept or construct in
terms of the theory.
1. Prior studies based on the selected theoretical
framework are included in the literature review
or are derived from the concepts that are clearly
shown in the current study.
2. The researchers use the tenets of the theory to
logically arrive at their research questions.
3. 11. By using very specific hypothesis, the study
places the theory at risk to be falsified.
4. 12.The terms of the theory clearly generate the
operational definitions of the study.
5. 13.The theory and research design are
philosophically congruent.
9. Instruments used to test the theory have
demonstrated adequate reliability and validity.
10. The theory guides the choice of samples for the
study.
11. Researchers should incorporate the strongest
statistics available into the study.
12. In analyzing the data, the researchers should offer
support for or against and/or possible revision of
the theory.
13. An interpretative analysis of findings related to the
theory must appear in the research report.
14. The research report considers the theory's impact
on nursing.
15. The researchers offer suggestions for the revision
of the study and more studies based on their
theoretical findings.
Theory Development
Theory development is a systematic and rigorous
process; which is accomplished through some of the
qualitative research studies such as grounded theory
research. Theory development in nursing is one of
the essential scholarly activities for advancement of
professional body of knowledge in the discipline.
The legitimacy of any profession is built on its ability
to generate and apply theory.
Theory component contribution to theory
Content & definitions
Concept describe & classify
phenomena
Theoritical definitions establish meaning
Of concept
Operational definitions provide measurement
Of concepts
Rational statements
Theoritical statements relates concepts to
one another,
permit analysis
Operational statements relates concepts to
measurements
Linkage & ordering
Linkage theoritical provide rational of why
statements statements are linked
Plausibility.
Linkage operational provide rational of how
Statements measurements variables
Are linked: permit
testability.
Organization of concepts eliminates overlap
& definitions into primitive
& derived terms.
Organizations of statements eliminates
& linkage into primitive & inconsistency.
Derived hypothesis &
Equations.
1. The purpose of the studies is to verify relationship
of described experiences to philosophical beliefs
and assumptions that underline the development
of nursing theory.
2. Identification of the research question(s) is based
on an attempt to provide elaboration of concepts
related to the developing nursing theory.
3. The primary data sources include sufficient in-
depth description of personal experiences to
capture the essence of the phenomenon under
investigation.
4. Simplicity, ethical integrity, and aesthetic
presentation are integral characteristics of the
described personal experiences.
5. Analysis of data incorporates a sense of wholeness of the
described personal experiences.
6. Formative hypotheses and/or theories are derived
inductively from qualitative analysis of the described
personal experiences.
7.Multiple personal experiences of individual and/or
similar personal experience of several individuals about a
particular phenomenon are used to validate the derived
hypotheses.
8.Analysis procedure of data and fit of the generated
concepts to the personal experiences provide indirect
evidence of the validity (or lack thereof) of the developed
nursing theory.
9.Findings are discussed in terms of how they are
related to the theories developed and tested
inductively, both the developing and existing
theories must be internally consistent and
congruent with one another.
SUMARRY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.sharama k suresh:- the text book of nursing research
2nd edition 2010 publised by relx india limited.
page no. - 121-137.
2. basvanthappa bt:- the text book of nursing research
and statistics 2nd edition 2009 publised by jitender p.
vij. page no. - 168.
net refrences:-
https://www.worldscientific.com
