appropriate:Quantitative methods may be used
when the design, concepts, measurement tools,
and results are conceptualized and interpreted
in a way consistent with Rogers’ nursing sci-
ence. It is important to note that because of the
incongruency between ontology and episte-
mology of Rogerian science with assumptions
in quantitative designs, Carboni (1995b) ar-
gues that the researcher must select qualitative
methods exclusively over quantitative methods.
Barrett and Caroselli (1998), however, recog-
nize the inconsistencies of quantitative meth-
ods with Rogerian science and argue that the
“research question drives the choice of method;
hence, both qualitative and quantitative meth-
ods are not only useful but necessary” (p. 21).
The ontological and epistemological congru-
ence is reflected in the nature of questions
asked and their theoretical conceptualization
(Barrett, 1996). However, qualitative designs,
particularly those that have been derived from
the postulates and principles of the science
of unitary human beings, are preferredbe-
cause the ontology and epistemology of quali-
tative designs are more congruent with Rogers’
notions of unpredictability, irreducibility,
acausality, integrality, continuous process, and
pattern (Barrett et al., 1997; Butcher, 1994).
8.Natural setting:Rogerian inquiry is pursued in
the natural settings where the phenomenon of
inquiry occurs naturally, because the human
field is inseparable and in mutual process with
the environmental field. Any “manipulation” of
“variables” is inconsistent with mutual process,
unpredictability, and irreducibility.
9.The researcher and the researcher-into are inte-
gral:The principle of integrality implies that
the researcher is inseparable and in mutual
process with the environment and the partici-
pants in the study. Each evolves during the re-
search process. The researcher’s values are also
inseparable from the inquiry. “Objectivity” and
“bracketing” are not possible when the human
and environmental field are integral to each
other.
10.Purposive sampling:The researcher uses pur-
posive sampling to select participants who
manifest the phenomenon of interest. Recogni-
tion of the integrality of all that is tells us that
information about the whole is available in in-
dividuals, groups, and settings; therefore, rep-
resentative samples are not required to capture
manifestations of patterning reflective of the
whole.
11.Emergent design:The Rogerian researcher is
aware of dynamic unpredictability and contin-
uous change and is open to the idea that pat-
terns in the inquiry process may change in the
course of the study that may not have been en-
visioned in advance. Rather than adhere to pre-
ordained rigid patterns of inquiry, the research
design may change and evolve during the in-
quiry. It is essential that the researcher docu-
ment and report any design changes.
12.Pattern synthesis:Rogerian science emphasizes
synthesis rather than analysis.Analysisis the
separation of the whole into its constituent
parts. The separation of parts is not consistent
with Rogers’ notion of integrality and irre-
ducible wholes. Patterns are manifestations of
the whole emerging from the human/environ-
mental mutual field process. Synthesis allows
for creating and viewing a coherent whole.
Therefore, data are not “analyzed” within
Rogerian inquiry but are “synthesized.” Data-
processing techniques that put emphasis on in-
formation or pattern synthesis are preferred
over techniques that place emphasis on data
“analysis.”
13.Shared description and shared understanding:
Mutual process is enhanced by including par-
ticipants in the process of inquiry where possi-
ble. For example, sharing of results with
participants in the study enhances shared
awareness, understanding, and knowing par-
ticipation in change. Furthermore, participants
are the best judges of the authenticity and va-
lidity of their own experiences, perceptions,
and expressions. Participatory action designs
and focus groups conceptualized within
Rogerian science may be ways to enhance mu-
tual exploration, discovery, and knowing par-
ticipation in change.
14.Evolutionary interpretation:The researcher in-
terprets all the findings within the perspective
of the Science of Unitary Human Beings. Thus,
the findings are understood and presented
within the context of Rogers’ postulates of en-
ergy fields, pandimensionality, openness, pat-
tern, and the principles of integrality, reso-
nancy, and helicy. Evolutionary interpretation
provides meaning to the findings within aCHAPTER 13 Applications of Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings 177