Page 116 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

ConCEPT AnALYSIS n 83

within the nIH. Consumer demand contin- adequately reflects the defining characteris-
ues to drive integration of selected CAPPs tics); and (d) to accurately identify the con-
into the conventional health care system as cept when it arises in clinical practice or in C
well as to prompt the need for continued rig- qualitative research data.
orous science in this field. These factors fos- Concept analyses were relatively rare
ter optimism and increase the potential for in nursing research until the early 1980s
additional evidence-based holistic and sup- but have increased dramatically in number
portive care, facilitating the safe integration over the past two decades. Concept analysis
of selected CAPPs into an integrative health is particularly relevant to a young science
care environment. such as nursing. The process, regardless of
method, requires rigorous thinking about
Ann Gill Taylor the language used to describe the phenom-
Victoria Menzies ena of concern to the discipline. Doing a
concept analysis causes the researcher to be
much more aware of and sensitive to the use
of language in research. A conscious aware-
ConCept analysis ness of the language chosen to represent
phenomena is necessary if nursing scientists
are to develop a comprehensible body of
Concept analysis is a strategy used for exam- knowledge for the discipline.
ining concepts for their semantic structure. It is also necessary for thoughtful prac-
Although there are several methods for con- titioners to be aware of the language of the
ducting concept analysis, all of the methods discipline. How nurses think about and
have the purpose of determining the defin- describe the problems and solutions relevant
ing attributes or characteristics of the con- to their practice is of paramount importance
cept under study. Some uses of a concept in helping the consumer of nursing care and
analysis are refining and clarifying concepts the policymakers who influence the practice
in theory, practice, and research and arriving milieu to understand what nursing is and
at precise theoretical and operational defini- what nurses do. If nurses do not have a cen-
tions for research or for instrument devel- tral core of well-defined concepts to describe
opment. Concept analysis has been used in their practice, then confusion and ambiguity
other disciplines, particularly philosophy will persist, and the development of nursing
and linguistics, for many years. However, the science will suffer.
techniques have only recently been “discov- Concept analysis has become a useful
ered” by nurses interested in semantics and adjunct to nursing research. The outcome of a
language development in the discipline. concept analysis significantly facilitates com-
Concept analysis is a useful tool for munication between researchers and prac-
nurses conducting research. Because the out- titioners alike. By specifying the defining
come of a concept analysis is a set of defin- characteristics of a concept, the researcher or
ing characteristics that tell the researcher practitioner makes it clear what counts as the
“what counts” as the concept, it allows the concept so that anyone else reading about it
researcher (a) to formulate a clear, precise or discussing it understands what is meant.
theoretical and/or operational definition Being clear about meaning allows better
to be used in the study; (b) to choose mea- communication between scientists and prac-
surement instruments that accurately reflect titioners about the usefulness and appropri-
the defining characteristics of the concept ateness of nursing language.
to be measured; (c) to determine if a new There is considerable discussion in the
instrument is needed (if no extant measure literature about which method of analysis is