Concept Analysis as a Method of Inquiry - Essay Example

?Essay Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts (20 03, Outline Introduction 2. Concept Analysis 3. Conclusion Concept Analysis 1. Introduction. Concept analysis is reputable in nursing research. The motive of a concept analysis is to define the characteristics of a concept together with the internal structure. The structure is grouped into simple parts. Concept analysis has been used to clarify concepts and encourage understanding. Besides giving an operational meaning, concept analysis participates in theory development and contributes to nursing diagnosis. This essay will discuss Wilson Method of Concept Analysis as discussed in Walker and Avant Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing. This paper will analyze a chosen concept using the Wilson Method of Concept Analysis. 2. Concept Analysis. The procedure of concept analysis by Wilson begins with isolating value and facts of the concept. This is achieved by answering the fact with knowledge and giving moral standards of the concept. The concept is also given a meaning. The second part is obtaining the right answers since a concept could be having more than one correct reply. Elements that are core to necessities of the concepts are given priority. The third part entails incorporating a model case. The case must be the actual example of the concept. Using several model cases helps clarify the meaning of the concept. The next part of the concept analysis procedure will entail a different case that contrasts the actual example of the pain or any case that is not the true example of the concept. Then related cases that are similar to the concept are given. There are situations where a case is debatable if it belongs to the category of the concept. This is used as a border case. Imaginations can be used to find meaning of a concept where an example is rare to find. The meaning of a concept can be placed in a social context. This is applicable in the concepts in language. Social context is diverse depending on the subject matter, religion and culture. The concept meaning can be derived from the tone and feelings that accompany the use of the concept. Then, the impact of the concept on life is identified. Finally, the procedure ends by identifying the meaning of the concept that conveniently used as the most effective at work. Walker and Avant adapted Wilson Method of Concept Analysis to identify the most significant approaches to study concepts in nursing. Walker and Avant (2005, p. 65) suggest the following steps in a concept analysis. The first step is concept selection. The selected concept reveals the area of concentration and the main topic. The second step is identifying the aims together with the objectives of conducting the analysis. Determining objectives clarifies the meaning of the concept. Moreover, clarity contributes to the creation of the operational meaning of the concept. Consequently, the scientific, normal or even the ordinary application of the concept is clarified. In some cases, the researcher may have individual interest and conduct a concept analysis (Morse, 1995, p. 31). The third step is the recognition of all uses of the concept. This entails finding out the meaning of a concept in the dictionary, available literature and from peers. The search for the uses is extended to all fields beyond nursing. The fourth step in concept analysis is concerned with characterizing the concept. After a critical examination of concept, attributes that appear repeatedly are noted. The attributes that form a cluster are linked to the concept. The fifth step is the creation of a model case. A model case will entail an illustration in real life that reveals all the attributes of the concept. Baldwin (2008, p. 53) adds that, the model can be presented as a case to generate the characteristics simultaneously or be discovered after the characteristics are determined. Construction of other cases is the sixth step. Other cases will include borderline case, related case, contrary case, invented case and illegitimate case. Borderline case is an example that consists of some of the major characteristics of the concept except a few. Related cases lack the major attributes of concept. Contrary case is a different model that cannot replace the concept. When the concept is used inappropriately the case is termed as illegitimate. The seventh step is the development of consequences as well as antecedence. Antecedence refers to the occurrence of certain event before the attributes of the concept emerge. This can be viewed as the causes of the characteristics of the concepts. The consequences are the events that follow the occurrence of the event in a concept. Empirical referents are defined in the eighth stage. Empirical referents are usually in line with the major attributes of the concept. The concept is given categories or classes that will describe the actual event of the concept in reality. The classes are significant in the development of the concept and make it possible to value the concept. Empirical referents increase the content and knowledge and validate new findings about the concept (Cutcliffe and McKenna, 2005, p. 56) When analyzing a concept it is necessary to evaluate the context of the concept. A concept can be best understood if sensible outcomes and the existing anxiety are dealt with. Concept analysis has the benefit of enhancing communication by delivering the true meaning of a term, word or a symbol. Researchers are able to use theoretical and operational meaning of a concept for ease in understanding (Walker and Avant, 2005, p. 74). Pain is a common problem for patients and a frequent diagnosis made by the nurses. Questions, facts and morals about pain can be obtained for finding the meaning. Pain is defines as sensing pain, being in suffering or being in distress both physically and psychologically. Philosophically, pain is a negative emotional sensation whose opposite is pleasure. Pain has been used by medical, sociological and psychological fields. People experiencing pain express unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences. Pain can emerge from body tissue damage or injury. Pain is closely is closely related to suffering and discomfort. Suffering is a state unwanted response to hurting experience that emanate from depression, anxiety or isolation. Pain can trigger suffering. Suffering can occur without pain and is unique to all people. Discomfort is another concept that can be related to pain. When pain is not in its advanced stages, the condition is termed as discomfort. Discomfort does not surpass distress. Distress is considered unpleasant feeling, most often referring to muscles. Pain, suffering and discomfort have a common characteristic which unlikable condition and are a response to certain conditions. However, pain is often used in situation describing the physical and psychological. Major characteristics of pain include distresses, experiences, sense are involved, have emotional aspect, physical and psychological aspect is involved and responses of pain are learnt. A case on pain can be illustrated by taking the example of a patient with colon cancer. The intestines had a tumor that is enlarged and would require surgery referred to as colostomy. The adult patient may be able to express that they have pain in the lower abdomen to caregivers. Facial expression and complaining of pain are characteristics of pain. Responding to pain by leaning on the side with pain is another attribute of pain. Large tissue and surgery expose damaged body tissue. A borderline case would entail a patient with for instance renal cancer who has lost hope in life and perceives pain as discomfort as they await rest. Antecedence depends on ability of the patient to feel pain and manage pain. The consequences are revealed verbally and using body language to show a lot of discomfort. When it comes to empirical referents, pain can be defined using the verbalized words from patients in pain. Verbal communication may not form adequate measurement for pain; hence use of behavioral cues, pain quality, restlessness, crying, restricted movement, intensity and location of pain can be used to measure pain (Cheng et al, 2003, p. 22). 3. Conclusion. Concept analysis is a significant contributor of development of theory in nursing. The method propounded by Wilson (as discussed by Walker and Avant) has described a procedure of conducting a concept analysis. Although Walker and Avant modified the steps, the outcome of concept analysis is similar. The purpose of concept analysis knowledge is to create clarity and expand knowledge base of nursing research. The procedure for concept analysis are as follows; concept selection, motive of analysis, naming of concept uses, describing attributes defining the concept, giving a model case, describing borderline case, invented case, related case, illegitimate case and a contrary case. Then the analysis gives consequences and antecedence of the concept, and finally, describes empirical referents. Pain has been used in this paper as an example. Pain is a concept used in different fields to include medicine and sociology. It describes a sensation in the physical and psychological. Pain is closely related to suffering and discomfort. Pain is unpleasant, entails human experience, is a state of feeling and expressed both verbally and in behavior. Those with pain may be having tissue injury. Pain is measured According to levels of discomfort or distress using verbal and behavioral indicators. Measurements depend on intensity, location and amount of pain. Reference List Baldwin, M. A. (2008) Concept Analysis as a Method of Inquiry. Nurse Researcher, 15(2), 49-58. Cheng, S., Foster, R. L., and Huang, C. (2003). Concept Analysis of Pain. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management, 92(9), 20 -29. Cutcliffe, J. R., and McKenna, H. P. (2005). The Essential Concepts of Nursing: Building Blocks for Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. Morse, J. M. (1995). Exploring the theoretical basis of nursing using advanced techniques of concept analysis. Advanced Nursing Science 17(3), 31-46. Walker, L. O. and Avant, K. C. (2005) Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Read More