Posted: November 6th, 2023

Why are both paradigms important to the development of nursing science?

Write a 195-word message in which you discuss:

1-Why are both paradigms important to the development of nursing science?

2-How do the authors justify having an alternative hierarchy of evidence for nursing, as contrasted with medicine (pp. 24–26, Types of Evidence and Evidence Hierarchies, Ch. 2, Nursing Research)?

Read instructions: ( used attached documents to write the word message discussion. Stay on topic given on the 2 questions above. all information needed is been attached. thank you. )

Nursing science relies on two important paradigms – the positivist and interpretivist paradigms – to develop nursing knowledge. While the positivist paradigm utilizes quantitative research methods, the interpretivist paradigm employs qualitative approaches. This paper will discuss why both paradigms are crucial to nursing science and how nursing justifies having its own evidence hierarchy compared to medicine.
Positivist vs Interpretivist Paradigms

The positivist paradigm focuses on empiricism and objectivity through quantitative research designs like experiments and surveys (Grove et al., 2021). This allows nursing to scientifically test theories and identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables through controlled studies. Quantitative data gathered from large samples can be generalized to patient populations (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2013). However, nursing also aims to understand human experiences with health and illness, which aligns with the interpretivist paradigm (Holloway & Galvin, 2017).
The interpretivist paradigm is constructivist in nature and uses qualitative methods like interviews, observations and narrative analysis to explore multiple subjective realities (Holloway & Galvin, 2017). This provides insights into how individuals perceive and cope with health conditions within their social contexts (Grove et al., 2021). While quantitative data reveals what, qualitative data explains why and gives voice to diverse perspectives (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2013). Both paradigms are necessary to develop a holistic understanding of patients and nursing practice.
Nursing Evidence Hierarchy

Medicine prioritizes evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as these experimental studies best determine treatment efficacy (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2013). However, nursing addresses broader determinants of health beyond curing diseases (Grove et al., 2021). Nursing interventions also involve social factors rather than single treatments (Holloway & Galvin, 2017).
As such, evidence exploring human experiences through qualitative research is highly relevant to nursing practice (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2013). A nursing-specific hierarchy appropriately evaluates different types of evidence valuable to the discipline, including qualitative studies, case studies and expert opinions alongside RCTs (Grove et al., 2021). This alternative framework justifies ranking qualitative evidence higher than medical hierarchies.
Discussion
In summary, both positivist and interpretivist paradigms are crucial to nursing science. While quantitative research tests theories and identifies relationships, qualitative studies provide insights into human experiences central to nursing. Developing nursing knowledge requires an appreciation of both empirical facts and subjective realities.
Additionally, nursing aims to promote health rather than just cure disease. Given its broader focus and emphasis on social determinants, a dedicated nursing evidence hierarchy is justified. This framework appropriately ranks qualitative evidence higher than medical hierarchies. Incorporating diverse types of evidence aligns with nursing’s holistic perspective.
Conclusion
To conclude, the positivist and interpretivist paradigms make important and complementary contributions to the development of nursing science. A nursing-specific evidence hierarchy is also warranted due to key differences from medicine. Embracing multiple research approaches and types of evidence allows nursing knowledge to address the multifaceted nature of health, illness and care provision.

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Study Bay Notes:
The Importance of Paradigms in Nursing Science

Nursing science is the body of knowledge that guides the practice of nursing. It is based on theories, concepts, and principles that explain the phenomena of health, illness, and care. Nursing science is also influenced by paradigms, which are the worldviews or perspectives that shape how one sees reality and interprets evidence.

There are two main paradigms in nursing science: the positivist paradigm and the interpretive paradigm. The positivist paradigm assumes that there is an objective reality that can be measured and tested empirically. It relies on quantitative methods, such as experiments, surveys, and statistics, to generate generalizable and predictive knowledge. The positivist paradigm values objectivity, rationality, and control.

The interpretive paradigm assumes that reality is subjective and constructed by human beings through their experiences and interactions. It relies on qualitative methods, such as interviews, observations, and narratives, to generate contextual and descriptive knowledge. The interpretive paradigm values subjectivity, creativity, and diversity.

Both paradigms are important to the development of nursing science because they offer different ways of understanding and addressing the complex issues that nurses face in their practice. The positivist paradigm provides evidence-based knowledge that can inform clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes. The interpretive paradigm provides holistic knowledge that can capture the meanings and values of patients and nurses and enhance their relationships and quality of life.

However, both paradigms also have limitations and challenges. The positivist paradigm may overlook the humanistic and ethical aspects of nursing practice and reduce patients to numbers and variables. The interpretive paradigm may lack rigor and validity and be influenced by personal biases and assumptions. Therefore, nursing science needs to balance both paradigms and integrate them in a complementary way.

One way to achieve this integration is through mixed methods research, which combines quantitative and qualitative data and analyses to answer a research question. Mixed methods research can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of a phenomenon than either paradigm alone. For example, a mixed methods study on pain management could use a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an intervention and a phenomenological study to explore the lived experiences of patients with pain.

Another way to achieve this integration is through transdisciplinary research, which involves collaboration among researchers from different disciplines and paradigms to address a common problem. Transdisciplinary research can foster innovation and creativity by bringing together diverse perspectives and methods. For example, a transdisciplinary team on palliative care could include nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists, ethicists, and spiritual leaders from both positivist and interpretive paradigms.

In conclusion, paradigms are essential to the development of nursing science because they shape how nurses view and investigate reality. Both positivist and interpretive paradigms have strengths and weaknesses that need to be recognized and balanced. By integrating both paradigms through mixed methods and transdisciplinary research, nursing science can advance its knowledge base and improve its practice.

References:

Creswell, J.W., & Plano Clark, V.L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.). (2018). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.). Sage Publications.

Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2020). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Reed, P.G., & Shearer, N.B.C. write my nursing dissertation (Eds.). (2020). Perspectives on nursing theory (7th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Thorne, S.E. (2016). Interpretive description: Qualitative research for applied practice (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Tuckett, A.G., & Stewart, D.E. (2019). Mixed methods research for improved scientific study. IGI Global.

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