Identifying alternative linkages among philosophy, theory and method in nursing science

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Philosophy of Science
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Concerns exist regarding the appropriate scientific approaches and methods for advancing nursing science.
• A debate is ongoing within the nursing community about adopting a unified versus a pluralistic stance on scientific philosophy and methodology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the nature of scientific pluralism in nursing.
• To present a framework for understanding alternative connections between philosophy, theory, and method in nursing science.
• To examine how different linkages influence the production of nursing knowledge.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of scientific pluralism.
• Development of a framework for linking philosophy, theory, and method in nursing science.
• Discussion of the implications of pluralism for nursing knowledge utilization.

Main Results:

• The nature of nursing knowledge is contingent upon the specific philosophical and methodological linkages adopted by researchers.
• Philosophical and methodological pluralism offers a flexible approach to developing nursing science.
• Diverse approaches to nursing science can lead to challenges in knowledge utilization for practicing nurses.

Conclusions:

• Nursing science can benefit from embracing philosophical and methodological pluralism.
• A framework for alternative linkages provides a way to navigate diverse scientific approaches in nursing.
• Understanding these linkages is crucial for effective knowledge translation in nursing practice.