explicate patterns give insight into the implicate,
and expanding consciousness becomes a reality.
In the second edition of her book,Health as
Expanding Consciousness, Newman, (1994a, pp.
147–149) summarizes the research methodology as
follows:
The interview:After the study has been explained
and informed consent obtained, the data collec-
tion process begins with the nurse asking the
participant a simple, open-ended question such
as, “Tell me about the most meaningful people
and events in your life.” If the researcher asks
simply about meaningful events, the meaning-
ful relationships usually arise as the stories are
told. The interview proceeds in a nondirective
manner, with the nurse asking clarifying ques-
tions if necessary. The nurse researcher focuses
on being fully present and sensing intuitively
what to say or ask. Pauses are respected and
attended to.
Transcription:Soon after the interview is com-
pleted, the nurse researcher transcribes the tape
of the interview, including only the information
that seems relevant to the participant’s life pat-
tern, but noting separately any information that
was omitted, in case it becomes relevant after
subsequent interviews. Not all HEC researchers
have found audiotaping the interview necessary.
The narrative:The nurse researcher then organizes
the narrative data into chronological order, tak-
ing note of sequential patterns of relationships
and ways of relating with the environment.
Diagram:A diagram is drawn of the sequential pat-
terns of relationships and transformation points.
Although optional, this step has been found to
be helpful by many HEC researchers and partic-
ipants in visualizing the pattern of the whole.
Follow-up:At the second interview, the diagram (or
other visual portrayal) is shared with the partic-
ipant without any causal interpretation. The
participant is given the opportunity to comment
on what has been portrayed. This dialectic
process is repeated in subsequent interviews,
with data added to the narrative and the dia-
gram redrawn until no further insight can be
reached about the pattern of person-environ-
ment interaction. The pattern emerges in terms
of the energy flow (e.g., blocked, diffused, disor-
ganized, and repetitive). It is important not to
force pattern recognition; sometimes no signs of
pattern recognition emerge, and if so, that char-
acterizes the pattern for that particular person.
Application of the theory:The HEC theory is active
throughout the process and is explicated by the
process. It is the theory that guides the interac-
tion. The theory is pervasive in the unfolding
and grasping of insights. After completion of the
interviews, the data are analyzed more intensely
in light of the theory of health as expanding
consciousness. Young’s spectrum of conscious-
ness is applied, and the quality and complexity
of the sequential patterns of interaction are eval-
uated. If the intent of the research is to look at a
group of people or at a community, similarities
of pattern among participants are identified.
HEC Research as Praxis
Research from the HEC perspective is research as
praxis,meaning that the researcher is an activeResearch from the HEC perspective is
research as praxis, meaning that the re-
searcher is an active participant in the
research and engages with the participant
in understanding the meaning of his or her
situation and its potential for action.participant in the research and engages with the
participant in understanding the meaning of his or
her situation and its potential for action (Connor,
1998; Litchfield, 1993, 1999; Newman, 1990,
1994b, 1997a). In HEC research, the researcher is
also a practitioner. Litchfield (1999) refers to the
“researcher-as-if-practitioner” in what she terms
“practice wisdom” in which caring and health are
seen as dialectically related and merging together in
the process of health as expanding consciousness.
Newman states: “Not only is our science a human
science,but, within the context of a practice disci-
pline, it is a science ofpraxis. This kind of theory is
embodiedin the investigator-nurse. It informs the
situation being addressed by making a difference in
the situation, as well as being informed by the data
of the situation” (Newman, 1994b, p. 155).
Research Identifying Patterns of People
with Common Conditions
Although the intent of HEC research is to under-
stand the nature of the nurse-patient relationship
in the process of expanding consciousness (New-226 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration