Page 521 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

488 n STReSS

(a) people change as they interrelate with challenge. A story path is a useful way to
their world in a vast array of flowing con- gather stories by centering the story teller
S nected dimensions; (b) live in an expanded on the present experience, past influence,
present moment where past and future events and hopes and dreams regarding a compli-
are transformed in the here and now; and (c) cating health challenge. (2) Begin decipher-
experience meaning as a resonating aware- ing dimensions of the complicating health
ness in the creative unfolding of human challenge. Dimensions of the challenge are
potential (liehr & Smith, 2008b, p. 209). The unique descriptions of the story teller’s expe-
three concepts of the theory are connecting rience. (3) Describe the developing story plot.
with self-in-relation, intentional dialogue, and Story plot includes high points when things
creating ease. Intentional dialogue is query- are going well, low points when things are
ing emergence of a health challenge story in not going so well, and turning points where
true presence (Smith & liehr, 1999). It is pur- there are important decisions or twists in
poseful engagement with another to summon the story (liehr & Smith, 2008b). (4) Identify
the story of a complicating health challenge movement toward resolving. movement to
(liehr & Smith, 2008b). Connecting with self- resolve the complicating health challenge
in-relation occurs as reflective awareness on encompasses actions taken by the partici-
personal history (Smith & liehr, 1999). It is an pant to address their situation. (5) Synthesize
active process of recognizing self as related findings to address the research question.
with others in a developing story uncovered When using the story inquiry process, the
through intentional dialogue (liehr & Smith, researcher will center the research question
2008b). Creating ease is remembering dis- on dimensions of the complicating health
jointed story moments to experience flow in challenge; high points, low points, and/
the midst of anchoring (Smith & liehr, 1999). or turning points; or actions taken to move
The remembering creates a space of fit where toward resolving.
one can anchor even for only a moment. Story theory offers potential for guid-
paradoxically, anchoring is accompanied by ing research and building knowledge tied
flowing as energy surfaces with the coming to the disciplinary perspective of nursing.
together of story moments into a comprehen- providing a theory-based substantive guide
sible whole and there is movement toward for story-gathering and data analysis brings
resolving the complicating health challenge depth and coherence to scientific inquiry
(liehr & Smith, 2008b). when the nurse–researcher is questioning
When using story theory to guide the experience of participants who are facing
research, the nurse researcher poses a ques- a health challenge.
tion about a particular health challenge and
the participant is queried to understand how Mary Jane Smith
the health challenge has been lived. liehr Patricia Liehr
and Smith (2008b) propose approaches for
qualitative and quantitative analysis of story
data. Quantitative analysis is accomplished
with narrative analysis software, linguistic StreSS
Inquiry and Word Count using story tran-
scriptions. A story inquiry method has been
proposed for qualitative analysis of story The term “stress” first appeared in the
data (liehr & Smith, 2011). The method incor- Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
porates the following inquiry processes: (1) Literature in 1956. nursing’s interest in stress
gather stories about a complicating health as a focus of research has mushroomed since