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Toward greater specificity in defining nursing's metaparadigm
ANS. Advances in Nursing Science
|July 1, 1985
Summary
Nursing science requires a clear distinction between scientific discovery and disciplinary practice. Current paradigms inadequately support nursing knowledge development, hindering scientific advancement.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Science
- Philosophy of Science
- Epistemology
Background:
- Distinguishing nursing science from its disciplinary application is crucial for conceptual framework development.
- Existing frameworks may impede the advancement of nursing as a scientific discipline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the concept of nursing within its disciplinary context in relation to nursing science.
- To assess the adequacy of current scientific paradigms for nursing knowledge discovery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the relationship between nursing science and the discipline of nursing.
- Discussion and critique of three competing paradigms: normal science, historical facts, and social facts.
Main Results:
- Nursing's disciplinary context is not adequately represented as a concept within the metaparadigm of nursing science.
- None of the discussed paradigms (normal science, historical facts, social facts) are sufficient for advancing nursing science discovery.
Conclusions:
- Failure to differentiate between nursing science and its disciplinary aspects hinders scientific growth.
- Future theory development in nursing science may benefit from a hybrid approach combining normal science and historical tradition methods.