Theoretical Frameworks

Chapter Two: Theoretical Frameworks

NSG 3301

Nature of Knowledge

The development of nursing questions is essential to improving practice. Formulating these questions often stems from identifying specific knowledge gaps in the field. This chapter explores various nursing phenomena through well-defined examples, such as:

  • Perception and Management of Pain in Adults: Understanding pain as a complex experience requiring unique management strategies for different individuals.

  • Educational Strategies for Reducing Vaping in Teenagers: Exploring effective educational interventions and outreach programs aimed at preventing vaping among adolescents.

  • Understanding Family Support of ICU Patients with Covid: Investigating the implications of family support on the outcomes of patients in intensive care, especially during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steps in Knowledge Development

  1. Knowledge Gap: Identifies the absence of theoretical or scientific knowledge regarding a specific nursing phenomenon that needs exploration.

  2. Knowledge Generation: This involves the development of targeted research questions designed to address the identified gaps in nursing knowledge.

  3. Conducting Research: Researchers employ qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches to investigate their research questions effectively and comprehensively.

  4. Knowledge Distribution: Once research findings are obtained, knowledge must be shared through various channels, including:

    • Formal methods: These include presentations at professional conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals to ensure credibility and academic reach.

    • Informal methods: Utilizing media, social networks, and the internet to disseminate information more broadly and reach different demographics.

Knowledge Adoption and Revision

  • Knowledge Adoption: This process entails the integration of new knowledge into clinical practice, which can lead to the establishment of new policies and procedures that enhance patient care.

  • Knowledge Review and Revision: Continuous review of existing knowledge bases is crucial as it leads to the generation of new research questions and the refinement of established knowledge as new evidence emerges.

Types of Knowledge

  1. Theoretical/Empirical Knowledge: Grounded in observation and measurement, this type of knowledge seeks to test theories and models, making it a cornerstone of evidence-based practice (EBP).

  2. Contextual/Sociopolitical Knowledge: Recognizes and addresses the impact of cultural, societal, and political influences on patient health and nursing practice.

  3. Aesthetic Knowledge: Involves the intuitive and creative aspects of nursing, emphasizing the art of nursing alongside scientific principles.

  4. Personal Knowledge: Comprises the inner learning and unique experiences of individual nurses, shaping their practice and decision-making.

  5. Experiential Knowledge: Reflects the transition from novice to expert, emphasizing that knowledge is gained through hands-on experiences in clinical settings.

  6. Ethical Knowledge: Focuses on understanding moral dimensions of nursing, emphasizing what actions are considered right or responsible in patient care.

Theoretical and Empirical Knowledge

This type of knowledge, often referred to as scientific knowledge, has gained prominence through evidence-based practice. It plays a critical role in:

  • The development and testing of nursing theories and ideas.

  • Examining the effects of various interventions, such as early ambulation's impact on reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Research Philosophies and Paradigms

The philosophical beliefs of researchers shape their worldviews, which in turn influence their approach to research. Key paradigms in nursing research include:

  1. Positivism/Post-Positivism: Posits that reality exists independently and seeks objectivity through scientific methods.

    • Example: Testing the effectiveness of oral care in reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) cases.

  2. Critical Theory: Focuses on societal influences and power dynamics, which shape health and illness understandings.

    • Example: The feminist theory that examines women’s health issues, particularly in heart failure contexts.

  3. Constructivism: Highlights that reality is constructed through social contexts and prioritizes personal experiences.

    • Example: Caregiver perspectives and experiences related to caring for dementia patients.

Research Methods

  • Qualitative Research: A systematic, interactive approach that emphasizes the description and understanding of lived experiences in healthcare.

    • Example: Documenting mothers’ experiences while their adolescents undergo substance abuse treatment.

  • Quantitative Research: Involves objective studies which statistically examine the relationships and cause-effect among various variables.

    • Example: Investigating the outcomes of patient education on adopting heart-healthy diets.

Identifying Research Purpose

The initial step in research is identifying a clear research purpose and specific questions to direct the inquiry.

  • Inductive Reasoning: This approach moves from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories, often employed in qualitative research.

    • Example: Studying the specific experiences of nursing students to draw broader conclusions about nursing education.

  • Deductive Reasoning: Starts with established theories and applies them to specific cases, often seen in quantitative research.

    • Example: Conducting surveys among nursing students to derive findings applicable to nursing education as a whole.

Variables and Concepts

  • Variables: These refer to changeable qualities or characteristics that can be measured or manipulated, such as temperature or weight.

  • Concepts: Represent abstract ideas expressed symbolically in nursing research, such as pain and stress, which guide the study design.

Conceptual and Operational Definitions

  • Conceptual Definition: Offers a general meaning of a variable.

    • Example: Pain is conceptualized as the physical suffering experienced due to injury or illness.

  • Operational Definition: Provides a specific, measurable method for assessing a variable.

    • Example: Pain can be operationally defined using a standardized pain scale ranging from 0 to 10.

Frameworks

Frameworks are critical for guiding researchers in understanding the relationships among different variables and concepts involved in their studies.

  • Conceptual Framework: Often depicted as a study map, this structure defines the main ideas and relationships that will be explored in the research.

  • Theoretical Framework: Comprises a set of interrelated concepts that explain or predict phenomena, functioning similarly to a blueprint for research.

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

Kolb's model emphasizes a cycle of learning that includes:

  1. Abstract Conceptualization: Synthesizing learning principles, such as understanding how to measure blood pressure.

  2. Active Experimentation: Practically applying learned concepts through real-world interactions, like taking a patient's blood pressure.

  3. Concrete Experience: Gaining first-hand experience through patient interactions in clinical settings.

  4. Reflective Observation: Reflecting on these experiences to enhance future practices and learning opportunities.