The Myth of a Theory Base
Janice M. Morse 39 THE MYTH OF A THEORY BASE Theories, derived from qualitative research, languish in libraries and in journals, separated from patient care by the infamous research-practice. —Morse…
Meta-Synthesis of Nursing Presence
Deborah Finfgeld-Connett 30 META-SYNTHESIS OF NURSING PRESENCE1 META-SYNTHESIS OF NURSING PRESENCE Due, in part, to its spiritual and philosophical underpinnings, nursing presence is a complex concept that is vague and…
Making Useful Theory: Making Theory Useful
Janice M. Morse 23 MAKING USEFUL THEORY: MAKING THEORY USEFUL There was a dean at my university who was a scientist with high intelligence but low boiling point. One day…
The Theory of Becoming Resolute: Guiding Mental Health Practice With Survivors of Maltreatment
Joanne M. Hall 38 THE THEORY OF BECOMING RESOLUTE: GUIDING MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE WITH SURVIVORS OF MALTREATMENT What is your story? How would you like it to unfold? Mental health…
Theoretical Coalescence
Janice M. Morse 34 THEORETICAL COALESCENCE We are proposing a theory of theories that sees theory as a conceptual system invented to some purpose—when seen in its full consequences—has revolutionary…
The Battlefield of Knowledge: Different Purposes, Different Approaches
Janice M. Morse 6 THE BATTLEFIELD OF KNOWLEDGE: DIFFERENT PURPOSES, DIFFERENT APPROACHES “It’s a bird.” “It’s a plane.” “It’s Superman!” —Maxwell and Duchovny (1939) As our perception of something changes,…
Concept Evaluation: Determining Appropriate Strategies for Concept Development
Janice M. Morse 11 CONCEPT EVALUATION: DETERMINING APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES FOR CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT1 Trust, but verify. —Ronald Reagan Concepts do not dichotomously simply exist or not exist. Rather, scientific concepts are…
