HOMEWORK-8

Guide for the Description of Theory

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1

PURPOSE

 Why is this theory formulated?

 Is there an overall purpose for the theory?

 The purpose is positive, negative, neutral?

 is there is specific purpose for the theory

 Is there a hierarchy of theory ?

 Is the all metapradigm element receiving care, nursing, the person, , Society and Environment?

 What is the value orientation of the purpose?

 Does achieving the theoretic purpose require a nursing context?

 Does the purpose reflect understanding, creation of meaning, explanation, and prediction of

phenomena?

 When would the theory cases to be applicable? what is the end point?

 what purpose not explicitly, embedded in the matrix of the theory can be identified?

2.

Concepts

 Is there one major concept with sub-concepts organized under it?

 How many concepts are there ?

 How many major (or minor) ones? ?

 can the concepts be ordered, related? Arranged into any configuration?

 Are there concepts that cannot be interrelated?

 Are concepts broad in scope? Narrow?

 How abstract or empiric are the concepts broad in scope? Narrow?

 What is the balance between highly abstract and highly empiric are concepts? are defined?

3.

Definitions

 Which concepts are defined?

 Which concepts are defined explicitly? Which are implied ?

 How much meaning needs to be inferred?

 which concepts are defined specifically? generally?

 are there competing definitions for some concepts?

 Are there similar definitions for different concepts?

 Are any concepts defined contrary to common convention?

4.

Relationships

 What are the major relationships within the theory?

 Which relationships are obvious? Which are implied?

 Do relationships include all concepts? Which are not included?

 Are some concepts included in multiple relationships?

 Is there a hierarchy of relationships? Do relationships create relationships? meaning and understanding?

describing, explaining? predicting? What mix of each?

 are relationships illustrated?

5.

Structure

 How are overall and individual ideas organized?

 If outlined, what would the theory look like?

 do relationships expand concepts into large wholes or vice versa?

 do they link concepts in a linear fashion?

 does the structure move concepts away from or toward the purposes?

 Are there several structures that emerge? What is their form? Do they fit together?

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6.

Assumptions

 What assumptions underlie the theory?

 Are assumptions explicit, implicit, or derivable from context and meanings?

 What are the individual, nurse, society, environment, and health assumed to be like?

 Do assumptions be factually verified?

 Can assumptions be hierarchically arranged or otherwise? ordered?

7.

Theory Application

Application of a selected theory through case study method (Theory application).