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472 UNIT IV Nursing Theories

Parse (2008e) calls “truth for the moment” (p. 46). happen over and over as context and earth are separated
Truth for the moment is the person’s description of from the core ideas or nuggets that eventually stand out
his or her reality, an expression of “personal wisdom” from the surrounding context or earth. Panning for
(Parse, 2008e, p. 46) about the phenomenon under gold is backbreaking work, and Parse’s research method
study in light of what is happening and known in that is also arduous. Both processes include excitement and
instant. Truth, from this perspective, is “unfolding anticipation of what is to be discovered. The extraction-
evidence, testimony to everchanging knowing, as new synthesis processes of the Parse method separates out
insights shift meaning and truth for the moment” core ideas that are present in all participants’ descrip-
(Parse, 2008e, p. 46). Thus, research evidence is “truth tions of the living experience under study. Core ideas,
for the moment” (p. 46). like gold nuggets, are isolated but not yet refined to a
In 1987, Parse first developed a specific research form that makes them meaningful in the world at large.
method consistent with the humanbecoming theory; Gold nuggets are refined into coins or jewelry. Core
since then, her humanbecoming hermeneutic method ideas are refined to the language of humanbecoming
has been articulated (Cody, 1995c; Parse, 1998, 2001b, and nursing science, so other nurses see not only the
2005, 2007a, 2011b). A third applied science method gold nuggets but also the meaningfulness of the newly
(qualitative descriptive preproject-process-postproject) refined ideas in light of a language of nursing science.
has also been articulated (Parse, 1998, 2001b, 2005, Because all research is theory driven, research findings
2011b). For information about these methods, see The are interpreted in light of the guiding frame of reference
Human Becoming School of Thought: A Perspective for to advance disciplinary knowledge.
Nurses and Other Health Professionals (Parse, 1998)
and Qualitative Inquiry: The Path of Sciencing (Parse,
2001b). Additional detail and updates about the Major Assumptions
humanbecoming modes of inquiry are found in Parse’s Parse (1998) synthesized “principles, tenets, and con-
and others articles (Doucet & Bournes, 2007; Parse, cepts from Rogers, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and
2005, 2011b). The Parse research method records Sartre . . . in the creation of the assumptions about the
accounts of personal experiences and systematically human and becoming, underpinning a view of nurs-
examines these accounts to identify the aspects of ing grounded in the human sciences. Each assumption
living experiences shared across participants. Core is unique and represents a synthesis of three of the
concepts, or ideas shared across all participants, form a postulates and concepts drawn from Rogers’ work and
structure of the phenomenon under study. The struc- from existential phenomenology” (p. 19). Parse draws
ture defined by Parse (2011b) is “a description of the upon the work of other theorists to build a solid foun-
emerging now…The emerging now incarnates remem- dation for a new nursing science. Accordingly, the
bering-prospecting about the [living] experience” assumptions underpinning humanbecoming focus
(p. 13). New knowledge is embedded in the core con- on beliefs about humans and about their becoming
cepts and, once discovered, enhances theory and visible–invisible becoming, which is health (Parse,
understanding in ways beyond the particular study. The 2012a). Parse does not specify separate assumptions
weaving of new knowledge with the theoretical concepts about the universe because the universe is illimitable
expands understanding of the content of the humanbe- and cocreated with humans—rather than separate
coming theory, and new knowledge develops disciplin- from humans as evident in Parse’s (2012b) newly
ary and interdisciplinary thinking and dialogue. updated assumptions about humans and becoming:
A metaphor of panning for gold describes the Parse Parse (1998; 2012b) synthesized the original nine
method. The researcher gathers descriptions from par- assumptions about humans and becoming into four
ticipants like a person panning for gold gathers up the assumptions about humanbecoming as follows:
earth. The extraction-synthesis processes of the Parse 1. Humanbecoming is structuring meaning, freely
method is likened to the gathering, sifting, swirling, choosing with situation.
seeking, and separating, as when panning. Researchers 2. Humanbecoming is configuring rhythmical hu-
following the Parse method work to separate particular manuniverse patterns.
context from core ideas. The gathering and discovering