Theory

and
Research
Framework
PCU-MJCN
Class 2012
To answer the questions:
What are theories?
How theories are tested?
How a framework is developed?
Which strategies can be used to identify the
framework in a published study?
How frameworks should be critiqued?
Theory of health promotion behavior (Pender,
Murdough & Parsons, 2001)
Theory of pain
Theory of hierarchy of needs
Theory of growth and development
Middle range theories are less abstract and more
narrow in scope than conceptual models (or
grand theories).
May emerge from the review of studies for the
purpose of building evidence-based practice
related to a particular clinical problem.
Middle range theories can be used a framework of
a study, thus contributing to the validation of
middle range theory.
Caring by Swanson (1991)
Health Promotion by Nola Pender (1987)
Maternal Role Attainment by Mercer (1986)
Quality of life of stroke survivors (Fairfax,2002)
Self-care of the elderly (Backman,2003)
Even more specific than middle range theories.
They are designed to theoretically propose
specific approaches to particular nursing
practice situations.
Sometimes referred to as prescriptive theory.

Comfort Theory by Kolcaba (1994)
A brief explanation of a theory or those
portions of a theory to be tested in
quantitative study.
The researcher explains abstractly in the
framework why one variable is expected to
cause the other.

A term that abstractly describes and names an
object or phenomenon, thus providing it with
a separate identity or meaning.
A concept is a basic element of a theory

A n xie ty H e a lth W e lln e ss

Construct Emotional Response Abstract

Concept Anxiety

Concrete
Variable Palmar Sweating
Defining concepts/terms
 Denotative definition - dictionary
 Conceptual definition tells you what a concept means in
abstract or theoretical terms.
 Operational definition links a concept to the concrete
world by telling you how to observe and / or measure the
concept.
Example - high self esteem
conceptually defined as a person demonstrating a high degree

of self worth.
Operationally defined as scoring above a certain number of a

self-esteem scale.
 Statements
Express claims that are important to the theory



Existence Statement



g ive n co n ce p t exists o r th a t a re la tio n sh ip b e tw e e n


Ex. A condition referred to as stress exists and that there



is a relationship between the concept of stress and the

concept of health.
health
 Statements

Relationa l Statemen t



Clarifies the type of relationship between or
among concepts.
Ex.

 High level of stress are related to declining

levels of health.
 Exercise is related to weight.
 S ta te m e n ts
e v els
 of R e l a t i o n a l S t a t e m e n t s ( P rop osit io



 General Propositions

Specific Propositions

Hypotheses
 Example

xternal stimuli will positively influence the magnitude of the physio

obility in the form of exercising positively influences the level of

tone through proper exercising , the patient will experience fewer pr

 Conceptual Map
Graphically shows the interrelationships of the
concepts and statements.
It is developed to explain which concepts
contribute to or partially cause an outcome.
Should be supported by references from the
literature.
Summarizes and integrates what is known about a
phenomenon more succinctly and clearly than
does a literary explanation.
Conceptual Map
Allows a grasp of the “wholeness” of the
phenomenon.
Includes all of the major concepts in a theory
or framework.
Concepts are linked by arrows expressing the
proposed linkages between concepts.
Each linkage by an arrow is a graphic
illustration of a relational statement
(proposition) of the theory.
In summary
Research is based on theory .
Researchers use theories to organize
what is known about a phenomenon .
A conceptual model , similar to a theory
but more abstract , broadly explains
phenomena of interest , expresses
assumptions , and reflects a
philosophical stance .
In summary
A framework is a brief explanation of a theory
or those portions of a theory to be tested in a
study.
Every study has a framework.
The framework must identify and define the
concepts and the relational statements being
tested.
Testing a theory involves determining the truth
of each relational statement in the theory.
Thank You!
Edna O. Imperial
Dean, PCU-MJCN