Theories are made up of ideas attempting to structure thinking around a specific happening. Your readings for this week introduce the ideas of phenomena, concepts, propositions, and assumptions. This assignment is designed to help you think about those four aspects and explain the connections between each to help strengthen your understanding of the foundations and working parts of theory.
Define the following four terms in your own words, citing at least one source: phenomena, concept, preposition, and assumptions.
Review your definitions, and think of an example from your day-to-day life or your practice experience that includes each of the four ideas.
For example, falls in clinical practice is a phenomenon you encounter. The idea that dementia patients are at greater risk for falls is a related concept. The related proposition is that dementia is related to falling in some way. An underlying assumption is that patients with dementia do not intend to fall.
Explain how all four aspects of your example work together to form the basis for a testable theory.
Full Answer Section
Here is an example from my day-to-day life that includes each of the four terms:
- Phenomenon: The phenomenon is that I often lose my keys.
- Concept: The concept is that I have a memory problem.
- Proposition: The proposition is that my memory problem is causing me to lose my keys.
- Assumption: The assumption is that I am not intentionally losing my keys.
These four aspects work together to form the basis for a testable theory. I can test the proposition by keeping track of where I put my keys and trying to remember them better. If I am able to reduce the number of times I lose my keys, then I can conclude that my memory problem is causing me to lose them.
Here is another example from a clinical setting:
- Phenomenon: The phenomenon is that patients with dementia are at greater risk for falls.
- Concept: The concept is that dementia can cause changes in balance, coordination, and judgment.
- Proposition: The proposition is that these changes in balance, coordination, and judgment are causing patients with dementia to fall.
- Assumption: The assumption is that patients with dementia do not intend to fall.
This theory can be tested by conducting research on the relationship between dementia and falls. If researchers are able to find a causal relationship between the two, then this theory will be supported.