Principle-Based Concept Analysis Methodology Using a Phased Approach With Quality Criteria

Abstract

The study aimed to provide a detailed description of a process to conduct a phased principle-based concept analysis and to introduce quality criteria assessment for a phased principle-based concept analysis. Concept analysis explores how a concept is described, used and measured in the literature. This conceptual understanding is important to guide translational research to direct the development of evidence-based practice. The principle-based concept analysis is one approach of concept analysis used in published work, but the literature is lacking in articles clearly describing how to conduct it in practice. This article provides a methodology utilising a phased approach and by advancing on previous work; this approach includes a combination of a systematic search, quality criteria and qualitative analysis with principle-based concept analysis. Quality criteria for a phased principle-based concept analysis is introduced to critically assess articles against the four principles: epistemology, pragmatic, linguistic and logical. These improvements to the methodology promote transparency, rigour and replicability. This comprehensive systematic approach will aid future phased principle-based concept analyses and enable future comparisons of concept development, advancement and related concepts to improve the evidence base.

“You Never Exhale Fully Because You're Not Sure What's NEXT”: Parents' Experiences of Stress Caring for Children With Chronic Conditions

“…The current study highlights that parents also experienced physical stress from carrying or lifting their child that got worse when the child got bigger. There is a need to review definitions of parenting stress in the literature and propose a concept analysis is required for future research [e.g., ( 38 , 39 )]. Having a clear definition ensures that we are all talking about the same thing.…”

Parental sleep when their child is sick: A phased principle‐based concept analysis

“…It is the analysis of a concept according to four broad philosophical principles: epistemological, pragmatic, linguistic, and logical (Smith & Mörelius, 2021). Epistemology is concerned with how the concept is defined and differentiated within the literature (Waldon, 2018).…”

“…Principle‐based concept analysis (Penrod & Hupcey, 2005 ) reviews the strengths and limitations of the present state of a concept in the scientific literature and can assist the clarification and development of the concept parental sleep when their child is sick. It is the analysis of a concept according to four broad philosophical principles: epistemological, pragmatic, linguistic, and logical (Smith & Mörelius, 2021 ). Epistemology is concerned with how the concept is defined and differentiated within the literature (Waldon, 2018 ).…”

A guide to the selection and application of concept analysis

“…Concepts are mental abstractions or units of meaning that represent an aspect or element of the human experience. 6,7 They facilitate identifying, communicating, and recognizing complex phenomena and are, therefore, essential for theory development and other conceptual work. While some concepts are fully developed and drawn from other disciplines, others already exist but are underdeveloped; still, others are generated, perhaps by using a grounded theory approach.…”

“…Concepts are mental abstractions or units of meaning that represent an aspect or element of the human experience 6,7 . They facilitate identifying, communicating, and recognizing complex phenomena and are, therefore, essential for theory development and other conceptual work.…”