Theory Evaluation Paper

The purpose of the Theory Evaluation Paper is to help you critically evaluate a nursing theory. This assignment will be completed using the three stages of the theory evaluation process:  Theory Description, Theory Analysis, and Theory Evaluation described in McEwen and Wills Chapter 5, pg. 96.

1. Select Nursing Theory- Select one specific nursing theorist and nursing theory that best suits your area of practice. (Ex. Watson's Theory of Caring, Kolcaba's Comfort Theory, etc.)
2. APA Title Page- (Use Running heads; No Abstract Needed)

• Include the following information on the title page:
  • Assignment name: Theory Evaluation Paper:  Name of Nursing Theory (Ex. Theory Evaluation Paper:  Swanson’s Theory of Caring)
  • Your Name
  • Course Number and Name of Course
  • Professor’s Name

3. Introductory paragraph (No level header needed) Capture the reader’s attention (ex. Grabbing statistics) and discuss the rationale for selecting the specific nursing theory for your area of nursing over other nursing theories (Do not write in first person; Include a purpose/thesis statement of what you will describe in the paper as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.) Next, begin the Body of Paper.
    
4. Theory Description (Level 1 Header) Use Chinn and Kramer (2015) components of Theory Description, Located in McEwen and Wills, pg. 100, Table 5-3)

• Purpose (Level 2 Header); (Designate as Descriptive, Explanatory, Predictive, or Prescriptive;  Include Scope- grand, middle-range, or practice)
• Concepts (Level 2 Header); (Introduce and list concepts)
• Definitions (Level 2 Header); (Define concepts and other important aspects)
• Relationship (Level 2 Header); (Describe relationship among concepts)
• Structure (Level 2 Header); (Describe; Is there a diagram of structure?)
• Assumptions (Level 2 Header); (beliefs, propositions of the theory)

5.  Theory Analysis (Level 1 Header) Use Fawcett (2013) criteria for TheoryAnalysis (Located in McEwin and Wills, pg.99-100)

• Theory’s Origin (Level 2 Header); (historical creation and evolution of theory)
• Unique Focus (Level 2 Header); (distinctive views)
• Content (Level 2 Header); (include definitions of metaparadigm concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing)

6.  Theory Evaluation (Level 1 Header) Use Fawcett (2013) criteria forTheory Evaluation (Located in McEwin and Wills, pg. 99-100)

• Significance (Level 2 Header); (usefulness, social significance, cultural significance)
• Comprehensiveness (Level 2 Header); (of the content, thoroughness, utility)
• Logical Congruence (Level 2 Header); (consistency and clarity of theory; consistent use of concepts throughout the literature)
• Credibility (Level 2 Header); (legitimacy, empirical support through research) 
• Contribution to Nursing (Level 2 Header); (usefulness to nursing practice, education, and research)

7.  Conclusion (Level 1 Header) Conclusion paragraph with concluding statements to summarize the content and re-state or re-phrase the purpose/thesis statement.

8.  APA Reference Page- Please be sure to support your paper with in-text citations. For maximum points per rubric, use >5 peer-reviewed resources.

Additional Instructions: Your assignment should be typed into a Word or other word processing document, formatted in APA style. Paper should be a minimum of 4-5 pages in length, excluding the title and references pages.  You may increase the number of pages of the body of the paper up to 7-8 pages if needed.  This is a scholarly paper and should not be written in first person.  Paragraphs should have a minimum of 3 sentences.  Paraphrasing should be done using in-text citations.  Direct quotes should be rare and used only when the content can be said in no other way. If using direct quotes, you must include page or paragraph number.