Theories are structured ideas attempting to explain a specific thing. This week’s reading introduces the ideas of phenomena, concepts, propositions, and assumptions. This assignment is designed to help you think about those four aspects and explain the connections between each to help strengthen your understanding of the foundations and working parts of theory.
Define the following four terms in your own words, citing at least one source: phenomena, concept, proposition, and assumptions.
Review your definitions and think of an example from your practice experience that includes each of the four terms.
For example, falls in clinical practice is a phenomenon you encounter. The idea that patients with dementia are at greater risk for falls is a related concept. The related proposition is that dementia is related to falling in some way. An underlying assumption is that patients with dementia do not intend to fall.
Another example is the phenomena of death and dying by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Dr. Kubler-Ross identified the concept of death and dying and formalized five stages from the phenomena she observed when interviewing patients and family members.
Present your example from day-to-day life or your practice experience (preferred) that includes all four terms.
Explain how all four terms in your example work together to form the basis for a testable theory (hypothesis). Be specific.
Identify a second nursing theory (be specific such as Orem or Watson) and provide a general overview of the theory.
