- Design a study to measure the characteristics of
the concept. - Decisions are made on selection of the popula-
tion to be sampled. - Collect data.
- Analyze and interpret data.
- Write results of findings and conclusions.
- State implications for adding to nursing
knowledge.
Concepts that represent phenomena in nursing
are structured within a framework and a theory to
show relationships.
King’s Conceptual System
Twelve concepts—self, body image, role, percep-
tion, communication, interaction, transaction,
growth and development, power, authority, organi-
zation, and decision making—were identified from
my analysis of nursing literature (King, 1981). The
concepts that provided substantive knowledge
about human beings were placed within the per-
sonal system, those related to groups were placed
within the interpersonal system, and those related
to large groups that make up a society were placed
within the social system. However, knowledge from
all of the concepts is used in nurses’ interactions
with individuals and groups within social organiza-
tions, such as the family, the educational system,
and the political system. Knowledge of these con-
cepts came from my synthesis of research in many
disciplines. Concepts, when defined from research
literature, give nurses knowledge that can be ap-
plied in the concrete world of nursing. The con-
cepts represent basic knowledge that nurses use in
their role and functions either in practice, educa-
tion, or administration. In addition, the concepts
provide ideas for research in nursing.
One of my goals was to identify what I call the
essence of nursing. That brought me back to the
question, What is the nature of human beings? A
vicious circle? Not really! Because nurses are first
and foremost other human beings who give nurs-
ing care to other human beings, my philosophy of
the nature of human beings has been presented
along with assumptions I have made about individ-
uals (King, 1989a). Recognizing that a conceptual
system represents structure for a discipline, the
next step in the process of knowledge develop-
ment was to derive one or more theories from this
structure. Lo and behold, a theory of goal attain-
ment was developed (King, 1981, 1992). More re-
cently, several dissertations by Frey (1995), Sieloff
(1995), and Killeen (1996) have derived theories
from my conceptual system.THEORY OF GOAL ATTAINMENT
Generally speaking, nursing care’s goal is to help in-
dividuals maintain health or regain health (King,
1990). Concepts are essential elements in theories.
When a theory is derived from a conceptual system,
concepts are selected from that system. Remember
my question: What is the essence of nursing?Concepts of self, perception, communica-
tion, interaction, transaction, role, and
decision making were selected.The concepts of self, perception, communication,
interaction, transaction, role, and decision making
were selected. Self is an individual whose percep-
tion and role influence that person’s communica-
tion, interaction, and decision making in small and
large groups. So, what is the health-care system
within which nurses function? Is it a social system
of individuals and groups interacting to achieve
goals related to health? A transaction model, shown
in Figure 16–2, was developed that represented the
process whereby individuals interact to set goals
that result in goal attainment (King, 1981).
As the twenty-first century begins, cost contain-
ment appears to be the primary goal of health-care
administrators and insurance companies. If the
goals and the means to achieve them are mutually
agreed upon by nurses and patients, 99 percent of
the time, goals will be achieved (King, 1989b). Goal
attainment represents outcomes. Outcomes indi-
cate effective nursing care. Nursing care is a critical
element to provide quality care that is also cost-
effective. Using the transaction process model is
one way to achieve this goal.
Transaction Process Model
The model shown in Figure 16–2 is a human
process that can be observed in many situations
when two or more people interact, such as in the
family and in social events (King, 1996). As nurses,
we bring knowledge and skills that influence our238 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration