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Chapter 3
Concept Development:
Clarifying Meaning of Terms

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Concept of “Concept”
• A concept may be abstract or concrete
• A single word
• Two words
• A phrase

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Question
Tell whether the following statement is true or false:
In theory development, the most logical place to start is to
define the concepts of the theory.

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Answer
True
Rationale: Defining concepts in clear and understandable
terms is the most logical place to start when developing a
nursing theory.

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Types of Concepts
• Abstract Versus Concrete
• Variable (Continuous) Versus Nonvariable (Discrete)
• Theoretically Versus Operationally Defined Concepts

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Types of Concepts

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Question
Tell whether the following statement is true or false:
Once a concept is defined, the concept is used with the
same definition in all theories.

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Answer
False
Rationale: The theorist may adjust and re-define concepts
and conceptual meaning based on the context of the
concept for theory.

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Sources of Concepts
• Naturalistic
• Research-based
• Existing concepts

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Question
Concepts in nursing theory can be derived from which of
the following?
A. Nature
B. Research
C. Other Disciplines
D. All of the above

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Answer
D. All of the above
Rationale: Concepts in nursing theory can be adapted from
multiple sources, such as nature, research, and other
disciplines.

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Concept Development
• Purpose of Concept Development
• Context for Concept Development
• Development and Frameworks
• Development and Research

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Strategies for Concept Analysis and
Development
• Multiple Methods
– Review of Research Literature
– Scholarly Critique
– Thoughtful Definition

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Walker and Avant
• Concept Analysis
• Concept Synthesis
• Concept Derivation

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Rodgers
• Identifies concept of interest
• Setting and sample
• Collecting and managing data
• Analyzing the data
• Identifying an exemplar
• Interpreting the results
• Identifying implications

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Swartz-Barcott and Kim
• Theoretical Phase
• Fieldwork Phase
• Analytical Phase

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Meleis
• Concept Exploration
• Concept Clarification
• Concept Analysis

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Morse
• Concept Delineation
• Concept Comparison
• Concept Clarification

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Penrod and Hupcey
• Built their method on Morse’s method
– Principle-based concept analysis

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Comparison of Models for Concept
Development
• See Table 3-9.