Overview of Theory Analysis Techniques

and Theory-Research Articles Portfolio

So far in Module 2 you've learned about constructs and concepts and how to analyze them. This assignment is an overview of theory analysis and the portfolio of theory-research articles you'll develop over the rest of the course.

We should review the definition of theory before we study how to analyze them Below are definitions you found in my listing of the theory terminology.

Practice theory: first defined by Ada Jacox in 1974 as theory that defines a goal of nursing practice and guidelines for accomplishing that goal. Controversy exists over the term due to its extension of the normal definition of a theory.

Theoretic model: (theoretic framework) "structure comprised of concepts related in some way to form a whole.....less tentativeness than conceptual framework or model" (Chinn & Kramer, 1995, p. 219).

Theory: 1. "a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that project a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomenon" (Chinn & Kramer, 1995, p. 72). 2. "systematic abstraction of reality that serves some purpose" (Chinn & Kramer, 1995, p. 20). 3. "A theory is a set of statements that tentatively describe, explain, or predict relationships between concepts that have been systematically selected and organized as an abstract representation of some phenomenon" (Powers & Knapp, 1990, p. 152).

Here are some classic definitions and statements about theory and that I like most and can remember best (adapted from Chinn and Kramer, 1999; Dickoff and James, 1968; Walker and Avant, 1995; and others):

A theory is a set of statements explaining a real phenomenon.

A theory is an abstraction of reality that serves some purpose.

Concepts are the building blocks of theory.

Theory analysis, a systematic examination using pre-determined criteria to assure complete evaluation, generates evidence to support whether or not a theory can describe, explain, predict, or prescribe.

Before we turn to theory analysis, allow me to tell you a story to summarize where we've come from and to introduce where we're going.

A Pain Theory

Once upon a time, there was a big construct named Pain. Pain was the head of his household where he lived with several sibling and cousin concepts. Although they were related in some way, they were all a little different too. There was Pain's younger brother Chronic, younger sister Acute, adopted younger sister Phantom, and a cousin Post-operative, who they called POP. Oh, yes....I almost forgot Pain's youngest brother, Pain in the Neck!

Being the oldest, Pain decided to write about what he had observed watching his younger siblings and cousin growing up together and how they got along with one another living in the same house [a theory]. He began writing about himself [concept analysis, actually "construct" analysis, although not usually called that]--those before him (his antecedent parents), what he looked like, how he acted, his usual day, etc..)(defining characteristics), and those siblings and cousin who followed him (consequences).

Since Pain was the first born, he believed his siblings and cousin developed their identities growing up modeling themselves after him. Pain was amazed at how they all could be so much the same, but all a little different. For example, his brother Chronic acted the same as Pain and was always hanging around the house and could never seem to "give it a rest". Acute, on the other hand, was much more intense but didn't hang around the house as much--she would "come & go". Phantom, the adopted sister, never felt like she belonged--she was the "black sheep", although she acted a lot like Chronic and Acute. Cousin POP (Post-Operative Pain) was one of the new breed, also acting like the others but in a special, new-wave way. And then there was Little Pain in the Neck--he was so predictable! You could always count on him showing up when you didn't want him around! In fact, his siblings have called him by other names (locations moving from the neck area to down below the waist somewhere)!

I hope you enjoyed my story of the Pains (or at least tolerated it!). Now if we were to analyze how valid and useful Pain's theory is about his influence on his household of siblings and cousin, we could get some help from Chinn and Kramer in chapter 4. Also, click here to view another set of Theory Analysis criteria.

These criteria for the theory analysis were assembled from several sources in the nursing literature (Chinn & Kramer, 1995; Fawcett, 1995; Walker & Avant, 1995). Different sources generally ask the same questions about the theory being evaluated. Usually there is overlap among the questions asked, so I encourage you to use the long form of Theory Analysis Criteria enough times to find redundancies and condense it into a form that works well for you throughout your career. Click here to see a Sample Theory Analysis by doctoral student Mary Koehn, MSN, RN.

Below is still another set of abbreviated questions that you'll also find in the Theory-Research Article Portfolio Guidelines (Please go back to the Calendar to access the link to the Portfolio). Read through them and then respond to the two questions at the bottom of the page.

What is the purpose of the theory? What areas of concern or problems are identified by the theory?
Briefly describe the historical evolution of the theory as depicted in the article/chapter? (Include other theories/works that may have influenced the theorist)
What approach to the development of nursing knowledge does the theory exemplify? Explain whether it is induction, deduction, or retroduction.
List the major concepts of the theory. Are they explicitly or implicitly defined? Are the definitions theoretical or empirical? Is the author consistent in the use of the concepts and other terms throughout the theory narrative?
Are relational statements of the theory discussed? Is a model presented to represent the theory?
Identify and list explicit and implicit assumptions underlying the theory.
Clarity: How well did you understand the theory? Did the author clearly present the theory and its relationships?
How does this theory lead to nursing actions that make important differences in the client/family health status?