Program of Research:
Studies and their Hypotheses
by Jean Johnson, RN, PhD
Pilot Studies (initial studies used to explore ideas, concepts, or knowledge and carry out an early version of a study)
Johnson, J. E., Leventhal, H., & Dabbs, Jr., J. M. (1971). Contribution of emotional and instrumental response processes in adaptation to surgery. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 20 (1), 55-64.
Johnson, J. E. (1973). Effects of accurate expectations about sensations on the sensory and distress components of pain. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, (2), 261-275.
Theory Derivation Studies (research used to develop, test or predict relationships)
Johnson, J., Morrissey, J.F., & Leventhal, H. (1973). Psychological preparation for an endoscopic examination. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 19, 180-182.
HO: Sensory information about a distressing procedure will lower distress in patients more than procedural information.
Johnson, J. E., & Leventhal, H. (1974). Effects of accurate expectations and behavioral instructions on reactions during a noxious medical examination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29 (5), 710-718.
HO: Accurate expectations about the physical sensations to be experienced reduces the distress caused by painful stimuli.
Johnson, J. E., Kirchhoff, K. T., & Endress, M. P. (1975). Altering children’s distress behavior during orthopedic case removal. Nursing Research, 24 (6), 404-410.
HO: a discrepancy between expected and experienced physical sensations (what is seen, felt, heard, tasted and smelled) during a threatening experience that will result in distress.
Johnson, J. E., Rice, V. H., Fuller, S. S., & Endress, M. P. (1978). Sensory information, instruction in a coping strategy, and recovery from surgery. Research in Nursing and Health, 1 (1), 4-17.
RQ: What is the relative contribution of instruction in a specific coping strategy and two types of information intervention on both subjective and objective indicators or recovery.
Johnson's Theory: "Discrepancy between expected and experienced physical sensations (what is felt seen, heard, tasted, and smelled) during a threatening experience will result in distress."
Other Related Classic Research on Methods of Patient Education
Lindeman, C.A. (1971). Nursing intervention with the pre-surgical patient -- The effects of structured and unstructured preoperative teaching. Nursing Research, 20, 319-332.
Lindeman, C.A. (1972). Nursing intervention with the pre-surgical patient -- Effectiveness and efficiency of group and individual preoperative teaching. Nursing Research, 21, 196-209.
Garfield, E. (October 22, 1984). Journal citation studies. 44. Citation
patterns in nursing journals, and their most-cited articles. Current
Contents, 43, 3-12.
April, 1977. In an article, A better way to calm the patient who fears the worst. RN, 47-54, Dr. Johnson summarizes her series of studies as a program of research.
Using this listing, now complete your last assignment about Johnson's research. Her studies moved from laboratory and clinical testing to become an established theory that predicts less distress occurs when teaching clearly depicts the sensations and experiences of a threatening procedure.
