Moving On: From Metaparadigm to Midparadigm for Knowledge Development

Perspective of radiography science - a document analysis of dissertations

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to clarify the perspective of radiography science as an academic discipline. A discipline can be studied by discovering the collective use of concepts, especially core concepts. We have previously identified the core concepts as clinical practices in radiography, radiographers' profession, safe and high-quality radiation use, and technology in radiography. The relationships between these concepts have not been studied previously. In order to clarify the perspective of radiography science we have investigated further the core concepts, their interrelationships and interdependencies.

METHODS

Altogether, 53 dissertations meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for a qualitative document analysis. The data were first analysed deductively using an extraction matrix comprising four core concepts developed from previous studies, then relational statements were synthesised, and the statements were analysed semantically.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed the bilateral interrelationships between the concepts and their dependencies. All the concepts were used within healthcare. The rationale for radiography science research was the clinical practice of radiography and the improvement of services in a complex environment as a part of patients' pathways. Safe and high-quality radiation use was investigated as a means to deliver optimal services. Technology was studied as being functional or a means to deliver services. The perspective of the discipline was seen as the combination of humanistic interaction with advanced technology, where safety and quality were a necessity.

CONCLUSIONS

Defining core concepts and their interrelations clarifies the perspective of the discipline and gives radiography researchers a way to argue their viewpoint.

Dialectical Pluralism for Nursing Knowledge Development

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of dialectical pluralism (DP) for nursing knowledge development. Nursing scholars have discussed ways of developing nursing knowledge, exploring the fit and relevance of various worldviews for knowledge development and examining the dynamic and perpetual processes of knowledge development. Scholars have argued that knowledge development occurs under a certain worldview to which the researcher adheres. Many nurses employ various worldviews, which can give rise to ontological and epistemological conflicts. DP can help nurses appreciate the diversity of worldviews and recognize the importance of implicit worldviews to generate more practical nursing knowledge. DP as a philosophical approach can enable nurses to communicate between diverse worldviews, become tolerant of conflicting differences, and develop an array of nursing knowledge.

Influences of the culture of science on nursing knowledge development: Using conceptual frameworks as nursing philosophy in critical care nursing

Nursing knowledge development and application are influenced by numerous factors within the context of science and practice. The prevailing culture of science along with an evolving context of increasingly technological environments and rationalization within health care impacts both the generation of nursing knowledge and the practice of nursing. The effects of the culture of science and the context of nursing practice may negatively impact the structure and application of nursing knowledge, how nurses practice, and how nurses understand the patients and families for whom they care. Specifically, the nature of critical care and its highly technical environment make critical care nursing especially vulnerable to these potentially negative influences. The influences of the culture of science and the increasingly technical practice context may result in an overreliance on the natural sciences to guide critical care nursing actions and an associated marginalization of the caring relationship in critical care nursing practice. Within this environment, nursing philosophy may not be foundational to nursing actions; rather, the dominant culture of science and the rationalization of health care may be informing nursing practice. As such, the ideology and goals of nursing may not be central to the practice of critical care nursing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of the culture of science on the development of nursing knowledge and theory. Further, we aim to describe the value of using conceptual frameworks, such as Roy's Adaptation Model, as a nursing philosophy to influence the development of person-centred nursing knowledge and theory to inform critical care nursing practice as it related to the care of patients and families. In doing so, nursing philosophy is situated as foundational for nursing actions.