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Overview of Chapter 7:
Examining Theoretical Frameworks Chapter 7 provides some basic
information about linkages between theory and
research in nursing. The chapter explains that
placing a research problem within a broad
conceptual context enhances the meaningfulness and
interpretability of the findings. However, the
chapter makes it clear that most nursing research
is not conducted within the context of a specific
theoretical framework and that this is
OK. The distinction between
theories, conceptual models, and frameworks is
briefly discussed. Classic theory and descriptive
theory are distinguished. And the chapter explains
how theories are used differently in quantitative
and qualitative research approaches. An overview of
several specific models of nursing, as well as some
nonnnursing models frequently used by nurse
researchers, is provided. You're not expected to
become familiar with the specific features of these
various models. Rather, the point is to see that
there are alternative ways of explaining and
understanding phenomena of interest to nurses.
Alternative explanations can be tested in the real
world by doing research. Study
Chapter 7 in the
text, pages 143-162. Use the forum
for Questions for Instructor on Part 2 in
WebCT for Nurs
400A
or Nurs
400B
to post questions about things you don't understand
in Chapter 7. |