Concept SynthesisConcept Synthesis

BYBY

Shadia Abd ElkaderShadia Abd Elkader

Definition and DescriptionDefinition and Description

• Concept Synthesis is based Concept Synthesis is based observation or empirical evidence.observation or empirical evidence.

• Data may come from: Data may come from:

• Direct observationDirect observation

• Quantitative evidenceQuantitative evidence

• LiteratureLiterature

• Combination of the threeCombination of the three

ConceptsConcepts are ordered information about the are ordered information about the attributes of one or more things that enable us attributes of one or more things that enable us to differentiate among them. It is a way of to differentiate among them. It is a way of grouping or ordering information about some grouping or ordering information about some events or phenomena.events or phenomena.

All of us form a new concepts or categories as All of us form a new concepts or categories as

our experiences broaden and increaseour experiences broaden and increase

Concepts are not always follow a Concepts are not always follow a logical categories at first but they logical categories at first but they become so as the child learns to become so as the child learns to associate things that are similar in associate things that are similar in some way. As the child experience some way. As the child experience increases, he or she begins to increases, he or she begins to compare information with the compare information with the already learned concepts or already learned concepts or

categories of things.categories of things.

If the new information fits one of the If the new information fits one of the previously existing concepts, it is easily previously existing concepts, it is easily assimilated. assimilated.

If the new information does not fit any If the new information does not fit any previously existing concepts then the previously existing concepts then the child must develop a strategy for dealing child must develop a strategy for dealing with the new information.with the new information. He or she has one of three choices:He or she has one of three choices:(1) Misname the information by putting (1) Misname the information by putting

it in an old category. it in an old category. (2) Deny the new information (2) Deny the new information (3) Or develop a new concept(3) Or develop a new concept

ways to synthesize ways to synthesize conceptsconcepts

• discovering a new dimensions discovering a new dimensions of old concepts of old concepts

• examining sets of related examining sets of related concepts for similarities or concepts for similarities or differences differences

• observing new phenomena that observing new phenomena that have not prescribed previouslyhave not prescribed previously

Purpose and UsesPurpose and Uses

Concepts synthesis is used to Concepts synthesis is used to generate new ideas. It provides generate new ideas. It provides a method of examining data for a method of examining data for new insights that can add to new insights that can add to theoretical development. New theoretical development. New concepts enrich our vocabulary concepts enrich our vocabulary and point to new areas of study.and point to new areas of study.

Advantages of Concept synthesisAdvantages of Concept synthesis

(1) In areas where there is little or no (1) In areas where there is little or no concept developmentconcept development

(2) In areas where concept development (2) In areas where concept development is present but has had no real impact is present but has had no real impact on theory or practiceon theory or practice

(3) In areas where observations of (3) In areas where observations of phenomena are available but not yet phenomena are available but not yet classified or named.classified or named.

APPROACHES TO CONCEPT APPROACHES TO CONCEPT SYNTHESISSYNTHESIS

Qualitative, quantitative, and Qualitative, quantitative, and literary approaches may be literary approaches may be used either alone or together used either alone or together to do concept synthesis.to do concept synthesis.

Qualitative SynthesisQualitative Synthesis

Qualitative synthesis requires Qualitative synthesis requires using sensory data such as that using sensory data such as that gained from listening or observing gained from listening or observing to obtain information. It speaks to to obtain information. It speaks to properties of things without properties of things without assigning numerical value to the assigning numerical value to the amount of the property present.amount of the property present.

ExampleExample• In a study of families who had lost In a study of families who had lost

a family member, yielded five a family member, yielded five categories: self-care routines, categories: self-care routines, member care giving, medical member care giving, medical consultation, habitual high-risk consultation, habitual high-risk behaviors, and mental health behaviors, and mental health behaviors. Six new concepts were behaviors. Six new concepts were synthesized: categories: self-care synthesized: categories: self-care routines, safety and prevention, routines, safety and prevention, mental health family care, mental health family care, preventive care and illness care.preventive care and illness care.

Quantitative synthesisQuantitative synthesis

• Statistical may be employed to Statistical may be employed to extract clusters of attributes extract clusters of attributes comprising a new concepts as well as comprising a new concepts as well as depicting those attributes that do not depicting those attributes that do not belong to the concept.belong to the concept.

Measures such as Q sorts and factor Measures such as Q sorts and factor analysis are especially helpful in analysis are especially helpful in generating meaningful clusters.generating meaningful clusters.

Several indices of psychological Several indices of psychological symptoms and personality were revealed symptoms and personality were revealed using axis factor analysis to synthesize using axis factor analysis to synthesize four concepts related to identity four concepts related to identity confusion: intimacy, negative identity, confusion: intimacy, negative identity, diffusion of time perspective, and diffusion of time perspective, and diffusion of industry.diffusion of industry.

Literary SynthesisLiterary Synthesis

The careful examination of literature The careful examination of literature is required in literary synthesis in is required in literary synthesis in order to acquire new insights about order to acquire new insights about phenomena of interest. phenomena of interest.

This examination may yield This examination may yield previously unrecognized concepts previously unrecognized concepts for study. literary synthesis is the for study. literary synthesis is the idea that literature itselfbecomes a idea that literature itselfbecomes a data base. data base.

ExampleExample Colling's (2000) study of passive Colling's (2000) study of passive

behavior in people with Alzheimer's behavior in people with Alzheimer's disease is an example of Literary disease is an example of Literary Synthesis. Fifteen studies yielded a total Synthesis. Fifteen studies yielded a total of 82 behaviors. The 82 behaviors were of 82 behaviors. The 82 behaviors were then clustered into six initial groupings: then clustered into six initial groupings: diminution of cognition, diminution of diminution of cognition, diminution of psychomotor activity, diminution of psychomotor activity, diminution of feeling emotions, diminution of feeling emotions, diminution of responding to emotions, diminution of responding to emotions, diminution of interactions with people, and diminution interactions with people, and diminution of interactions with the environment.of interactions with the environment.

Mixed methodsMixed methods

Any of the three approaches to Any of the three approaches to concept synthesis may be used concept synthesis may be used alone or together. alone or together.

Burke, Kaufmann, Costello, and Dillon Burke, Kaufmann, Costello, and Dillon (1991)(1991) provided an excellent example provided an excellent example of concept synthesis using data from of concept synthesis using data from several sources. In their study of the several sources. In their study of the stress of parenting a chronically ill stress of parenting a chronically ill child with repeated hospitalizations, child with repeated hospitalizations, they formed two new concepts; The they formed two new concepts; The first was "hazardous secrets," which first was "hazardous secrets," which reflects the parents' perceptions of the reflects the parents' perceptions of the parent-health care worker interaction. parent-health care worker interaction.

The second concept reflected the The second concept reflected the process by which the parents process by which the parents managed the stress and was managed the stress and was named "reluctantly taking named "reluctantly taking charge'" and encompassed charge'" and encompassed vigilance, negotiating rules, vigilance, negotiating rules, calling a halt, and persistent calling a halt, and persistent information seeking.information seeking.

Procedures for concept Procedures for concept synthesissynthesis

• Familiar with an area of interestFamiliar with an area of interest

( ( theoretical saturationtheoretical saturation))

• Review of literatureReview of literature

• Classify data into clustersClassify data into clusters

• examine [he clusters for any examine [he clusters for any hierarchical structurehierarchical structure

• Name the conceptName the concept

• Verify the concepts empiricallyVerify the concepts empirically

• Determine where the new concept Determine where the new concept fits the existing theory.fits the existing theory.

Theoretical saturationTheoretical saturation

• Be familiar with an area of interest Be familiar with an area of interest by using many resources, including by using many resources, including review and case studies. All provide review and case studies. All provide potential resources of usable data.potential resources of usable data.

Classify data into clustersClassify data into clusters

• During the time you are becoming During the time you are becoming theoretically saturated begin to theoretically saturated begin to classify the data you acquire.classify the data you acquire.

• While you are classifying the data While you are classifying the data look for clusters of phenomena that look for clusters of phenomena that seem to relate to each other or seem to relate to each other or overlap considerably and overlap considerably and combinethem. combinethem.

• When you are satisfied with clusters. When you are satisfied with clusters. Examine Examine the clusters for any hierarchical structure. the clusters for any hierarchical structure.

• If there are clusters that appear very similar If there are clusters that appear very similar but one is of a broader nature than the but one is of a broader nature than the other, it may be helpful to reduce the. two other, it may be helpful to reduce the. two clusters into one higher order, concept.clusters into one higher order, concept.

• When the new concept has been reduced as When the new concept has been reduced as much as possible, a name should be chosen much as possible, a name should be chosen for it that accurately describes it and that for it that accurately describes it and that facilitatefacilitate

communication about it.communication about it.

• Once the concept is named the next step Once the concept is named the next step is to verify the new concept empirically is to verify the new concept empirically and modify it as necessary. and modify it as necessary.

• Verification involves a return to literature, Verification involves a return to literature, field studies, data collection, and field studies, data collection, and colleagues to discover if the concept is colleagues to discover if the concept is empirically supported. This process empirically supported. This process continues until the theorist is satisfied that continues until the theorist is satisfied that no new information is being received.no new information is being received.

• Finally, determine, if possible, where Finally, determine, if possible, where the concept fits into existing theory the concept fits into existing theory in the area.in the area.

Area of interest

Review of literature/ case studies

Classify the datainto clusters

Verify and name the new concept

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

• Concept synthesis provides a mechanism Concept synthesis provides a mechanism for creating something new from data.for creating something new from data.

• Naming of nursing phenomena and Naming of nursing phenomena and nursing activities makes concept nursing activities makes concept synthesis especially pertinent.synthesis especially pertinent.

• The process of concept synthesis isThe process of concept synthesis is especially useful as a means of especially useful as a means of

generating and naming potential nursing generating and naming potential nursing diagnoses.diagnoses.

interventions, and outcomes.interventions, and outcomes.

LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS

• Concept synthesis does take time Concept synthesis does take time and requires the theorist to be open and requires the theorist to be open to risk taking.to risk taking.

• The theorist must begin with raw The theorist must begin with raw data and attempt to conceive a new data and attempt to conceive a new idea from it. Sometimes this idea from it. Sometimes this happens quickly. More often, it happens quickly. More often, it happens only after considerable happens only after considerable time and thought.time and thought.

• Verifying concepts also takes rime. Verifying concepts also takes rime. This is when she theorist feels This is when she theorist feels most uncomfortable. What if the most uncomfortable. What if the new concept cant be verified? The new concept cant be verified? The fear of being wrong is powerful, fear of being wrong is powerful, especially when the theorist may especially when the theorist may view the new concept as a "brain -view the new concept as a "brain -child“ and is very attached to it.child“ and is very attached to it.

• Finally concepts in themselves Finally concepts in themselves are only useful to describe a are only useful to describe a phenomenon, phenomenon,

• They do not provide for They do not provide for explanation, prediction, or explanation, prediction, or prescription or controlprescription or control

UTILIZING THE RESULTS OF UTILIZING THE RESULTS OF CONCEPT SYNTHESISCONCEPT SYNTHESIS

• Concept synthesis is useful when Concept synthesis is useful when there is a need to explain there is a need to explain something by classifying it, or something by classifying it, or when we need wholly new when we need wholly new concepts or new uses for old concepts or new uses for old ones. But what do you do with a ones. But what do you do with a new concept once you've new concept once you've synthesized it?synthesized it?

• The first of these is to verify, The first of these is to verify, support.support.

and validate the new concept.and validate the new concept.

• Once the concept has attained an Once the concept has attained an adequate degree of support, aadequate degree of support, a

good theoretical definition good theoretical definition containing the defining attributes containing the defining attributes should be written.should be written.

• Knowledge development in the nursing Knowledge development in the nursing dlscrpline requires valid new concepts.dlscrpline requires valid new concepts.

• New concepts are useful in both our New concepts are useful in both our science and in our practice. science and in our practice.

• In education, the new concept could be In education, the new concept could be used to describe nursing phenomena to used to describe nursing phenomena to students in a meaningful way or to students in a meaningful way or to classify patient needs or nursing classify patient needs or nursing actions. actions.

• In practice the new concept may give In practice the new concept may give clinicians fresh insights into patient clinicians fresh insights into patient problems, new nursing diagnosis.problems, new nursing diagnosis.