2. Introduction
• Theory is a process that involves questions,
answers, and practice in a close relationship.
• Theorizing is performed differently in different
disciplines, but ultimately seeks to achieve the
same goal.
• Theory can be negative when it is not
appropriately defined by and tied to practice.
3. Defining Theory
• Theory is multifaceted, complex, and dynamic.
• It tends to fall into two categories—
commonsense and scientific.
• To understand theory, it’s best to ask questions
about it:
– What does theory do?
– What does theory look like in action?
– How can one recognize theory?
– What aspects of theory are unique?
4. Commonsense Theories
• Commonsense theories comprise explanations
that people use daily to make sense of their
lives.
• Represent personal attempts to make
meaning of situations based on the
information at hand.
• Conspiracy theories are an example of
commonsense theories.
5. Scientific Theories (1 of 3)
• Scientific theories are more elaborate than
commonsense theories, contain clearly outlined
characteristics, and have well-defined purposes.
• They are defined by a set of interrelated concepts,
definitions, and propositions that present a
systematic view of events.
• Theoretical explanations connect to one another
according to deductive systems.
6. Scientific Theories (2 of 3)
• Scientific theories typically have three goals:
– Description of phenomenon being studied
– Explanation that “makes sense” of observed events
– Prediction about future relationships
• Theory components combine in different ways to
produce different theories.
– Like quilt blocks, they can be combined in different
ways to produce different patterns.
7. • Hard and soft sciences do not share a single
definition of scientific theory, largely because
of their widely divergent approaches to their
disciplines.
• Lack of a common definition of scientific
theory reinforces the idea that theory is a
complex, multidimensional phenomenon.
Scientific Theories (3 of 3)
8. Theorizing & Theoretical Thinking (1 of 4)
• Definitions of scientific theory are problematic
because the focus on the outcome rather than
the theorizing process.
• Both asking and answering specific types of
questions are key to the process.
• Scientific theories are characterized by
questions focused on causes and explanations
that tell the story of why phenomenon occur
as they do.
9. Theorizing & Theoretical Thinking (2 of 4)
• Scientific questions about health promotion
tend to look like the following:
– What influences or determines healthy behaviors
among older adults?
– Do attitudes lead to behavior changes among
adolescents?
– Why is education level associated with certain
outcomes?
10. • To move from questions to theory, scientific
questions are answered using certain
principles that provide clean, clutter-free
explanations.
• Other types of theories ask different types of
questions that are not necessarily cause and
effect type.
Theorizing & Theoretical Thinking (3 of 4)
11. • Questions related to other types of theories
tend to look like the following:
– What is the ultimate end of health promotion?
– Why should healthier lifestyles be promoted?
– Which nursing interventions result in patient well-being?
– Is health a human right to which all human beings are
naturally entitled?
– What can be expected from globalization, in terms of its
effects on health promotion, on a worldwide basis?
Theorizing & Theoretical Thinking (4 of 4)
12. Theory as Practice: What Does
Theory Do?
• Theorizing lends meaning, provides
explanations, imposes order, and organizes
events.
• In healthcare, theory is practice built on four
steps:
– Asking certain types of questions
– Questioning the status quo
– Seeking plausible and meaningful answers
– Building a narrative or logical structure for
questions and answers
13. Theory as Practice: What Does
Theory Look Like?(1 of 2)
• Commonsense and scientific theories look
different on the surface but both seek to find
meaning in phenomena.
• Theory structure is based on storytelling
tradition and follows certain narrative rules
that lend themselves to sense making.
• “Stories” built by theory only make sense in
the context in which they were created.
14. Theory as Practice: What Does Theory
Look Like?(2 of 2)
• Certain contexts produce theories with distinct
appearances:
– Natural science: Theories are rigid, universal laws
– Behavioral science: Theories are numerous, varied, much
more malleable, question the search for meaning
– Public policy: Theories facility community living
– Western ethics: Theories focus on normative aspects of
living, guidelines for seeking common good
– Nursing: Theories focus on achieving positive patient
outcomes
15. • The word theory tends to carry negative
connotations as a result of the way it is often
applied to practice.
• Aristotle proposed that human experience
was divided into three categories—theoria,
poiesis, and praxis—each of which generated
a specific type of knowledge—epistme,
techne, and phronesis.
Theories Versus Practice (1 of 3)
16. • Epistme (tied to theoria) is gained through
observation of constant, universal events and may
be the cause of negative feelings toward theory.
• Health behaviors tend to be fluctuating and can be
classified as phronesis (tied to praxis).
• Viewing health behaviors as epistme rather than
phronesis can lead to one-size-fits-all interventions
that may compound problems.
Theories Versus Practice (2 of 3)
17. • The one-size-fits-all view can lead to the separation of
theory and praxis.
– Divorcing the two comes to nonsense
• Freire proposed that the theory-practice relationship be
the same as the action-reflection relationship.
• Developing and applying relevant questions and
appropriate answers accomplishes this by creating
reflexive praxis.
• The dynamic dialog of theory and practice reinforces the
fact that theory is itself a type of practice.
• Without practice, theory would not happen.
• Without theory, practice would have no meaning.
Theories Versus Practice (3 of 3)
18. • A main goal of scientific theorizing is the
ability to predict behavior.
• Prediction threatens a loss of human
autonomy.
• Prediction is precise only at an aggregate
level, not an individual level.
• Public policy is predicated on aggregate data,
leading theory to be used as a control
mechanism for human behavior.
Final Thoughts
19. Summary
• Theory is a complex process that is intricately tied
to practice and defies a simple, one sentence
explanation.
• Theory seeks to make sense of the world by
asking and then answering specific questions in
specific ways.
• When theory and practice are divorced from one
another, theory can be a negative or detrimental
force.
