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browser. Hint: If you are a beginning researcher, it
is a good idea to double the amount of time you es-
timate you will need.

Focus and Scope of Inquiry

Defining the focus of your search also helps assess
the scope. For example, will your inquiry center on
one particular theory or will your search include
theory-based practice and research studies? Will
you include critiques by other nurses and articles
from other disciplines? What will you generally not
include?

Wise Moves in Your

Beginning Search

In your search for nursing theory resources, there is
no need to “reinvent the wheel.” Generally, you may
be initiating searches in any or all of the following
six areas:

1. Library online databases such as CINAHL
   (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health
   Literature): for books and journal articles acces-
   sible in full text or available by request from
   other libraries.


2. Library catalogs, bookshelves, and journal
   stacks: for books and journals not available in
   full text online.


3. References lists and bibliographies: from online
   database abstracts and full-text articles about
   theory with references that are “hot linked” di-
   rectly to other related theory articles.


4. World Wide Web searches for nursing theory or
   theorists: through search engines such as
   Google, Yahoo, or Lycos.


5. Nursing theory “meta-sites” such as those listed
   in Table 4–1, which provides links directly to
   each theorist’s Web site.


6. Comprehensive bibliographies: compiled within
   anthologies of nursing theories, such as in the
   one you are now reading.

A Search Example

As you reflect upon how to approach your prelimi-
nary search, you decide to begin with a survey
of the nursing literature focusing on theory in
CINAHL. You access your library from home and

enter CINAHL. You enter a word search for nursing

theoryand are dismayed to discover thousands of

articles through which you would need to sift.

Narrowing your search down further to an individ-

ual theory is productive, but you find that earlier

works by nursing theorists are only abstracted and

not available online in full text.

32 SECTION I Perspectives on Nursing Theory

Table 4–1 Select Nursing Theory

Meta-sites and

Directories

THE NURSING THEORY PAGE, HAHN SCHOOL OF

NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE

http://www.sandiego.edu/nursing/theory

This nursing theory meta-site is clear, comprehensive,

and well-maintained. It contains literature search

tips, video and book resources, teaching tools, dis-

cussion forums, and related links to other nursing

theory sites. Complementing the site is an article

for researchers entitled “Searching Bibliographic

Databases for Nursing Theory,” with a contact ad-

dress for author Margaret (Peg) Allen, MLS-AHIP.

A NURSING THEORY LINK PAGE, CLAYTON COLLEGE

AND STATE UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

http://healthsci.clayton.edu/eichelberger/nursing.htm

This rapidly growing meta-site contains links to newer

and less well-known theory Web sites.

NURSING THEORY, COLLEGE OF NURSING AT

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

http://www.valdosta.edu/nursing/history_theory/

theory.html

This meta-site contains links to the well-known

“classic” nursing theorists.

NURSING THEORIES. NURSING ONLINE: RESOURCES

FOR NURSING PROFESSION

http://www.nursing.iirt.net/theory.html

This smaller commercial site contains links to classic

and less well-known theorists.

NURSING THEORIES A–Z. NURSES. INFO

http://www.nurses.info/nursing_theory.htm

This directory constitutes part of a commercial Web

site and contains lists of nursing theorists classified

by theory type. Also included are various profes-

sional services and discussion forums with lists of

conferences and events.