The necessity for and evolution of multiple paradigms for nursing research: a poststructuralist perspective

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Philosophy of Science
• Poststructuralism

Background:

• Nursing research has evolved through distinct paradigms, notably logical positivism and phenomenology/hermeneutics.
• Traditional philosophical boundaries limit comprehensive understanding of research phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution of nursing research paradigms from a poststructuralist perspective.
• To elucidate the influence of power/knowledge and discipline on the acceptance of multiple research paradigms in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis utilizing poststructuralist philosophy, particularly the ideas of Foucault.
• Examination of the historical development and theoretical underpinnings of nursing research paradigms.

Main Results:

• Poststructuralism offers a framework to transcend limitations of existing paradigms.
• Concepts of power/knowledge and discipline are crucial for understanding the shift towards methodological pluralism in nursing research.

Conclusions:

• Adopting a poststructuralist viewpoint enhances the understanding of nursing research evolution.
• The acceptance of diverse research paradigms in nursing is intrinsically linked to power dynamics and disciplinary structures.