Concept Analysis Guidelines

Think of this as a "concept in action" project. Select a concept with a relationship or relevance for community, society, or organization (Perhaps the concept will have a relationship to your complex client project. For example, if I were to assess an "assisted living" setting, it would be useful to do a concept analysis to help understand what the term assisted living really means. Attached is an example of how I used the following guidelines for the assisted living concept.

I. Use the expertise you gained last semester in concept analysis to:

  1. Introduce the concept
  2. Review the literature for definitions, clues to definition
  3. Determine defining criteria for the concept (I'll know it when I see it because...)
  4. Discuss antecedents and potential outcomes for the concept
  5. Give real life examples in society of a model case, contrary case, and related case.
  6. Identify how well the concept is addressed in the literature. Is there research validation of the concept? Are there tools available for measuring the concept as you have defined it?

II. To incorporate the "concept in action" approach at the societal level, plan to use not only traditional literature resources for the analysis, but also newspapers, media news reports, popular magazines, news magazines, world wide web sites, reports from meetings, and personal observations. Discuss the concept with your group and with other "experts" on the topic.

  1. Discuss the relevant societal issues you learn about this concept. Consider your concept, at minimum, in terms of the following: ethical issues, legal issues, political issues
  2. Present actual or potential implications for nursing and/or health care relevant to this concept.

Format for paper:

  1. Paper can be either a detailed outline format or APA formal paper. Ten pages should be adequate to cover the topic.Additional appendices can be used as appropriate.
  2. Minimum of ten references from multiple disciplines.
  3. Appendix page listing your concept in action approaches. (i.e. what tools, approaches you used to follow the concept in society)
  4. Prepare a one page written outline and reference list to share with fellow students.

Mini-presentation:

  1. Share your written outline of this project and reference list via Threaded Discussion with the class.
  2. Respond to colleagues' questions via threaded discussion group.

References:

  1. Concept Analysis Tutorial (powerpoint presentation on the process) 
  2. Walker, L. & Avant, K. (1995). Concept analysis. In L. Walker & K. Avant, Strategies for theory construction in nursing (3rd ed.) pp.37-54. 

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Elaine Domian, University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Nursing, January, 2001