Principle-based concept analysis: A narrative review from a nursing perspective

Abstract

This study seeks to delineate the methodology underpinning principle-based concept analysis. To initiate this study, a non-systematic exploration was conducted in the PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine, with no temporal constraints. The keywords employed for this search encompassed "concept analysis", "principle-based concept analysis", and "penrod and hupcey". Ultimately, the full texts of sixteen studies, each delineating their methodological approach as concept analysis based on principles, were procured for a comprehensive examination. The findings indicate that principle-based concept analysis is executed with a focal emphasis on the imperative incorporation of four foundational philosophical principles: epistemology, pragmatism, linguistics, and logic at each stage of the analytical process. The methodological sequence comprises the following steps: 1) the discernment and selection of pertinent texts, 2) the meticulous sampling strategy aligned with the identified concept, and 3) the comprehensive internal and interdisciplinary analysis. This approach posits concepts as experiential abstractions derived from reality or truth that transcend the contextual dimensions of human existence. The amalgamation of these truths culminates in the collective expression, elucidating the most plausible approximation of truth. Consequently, the bedrock of principle-based concept analysis rests upon the notion of probable truth, as delineated within the scientific literature. The outcomes of a concept analysis are essential for researchers aiming to discern and pursue avenues for the development of the examined concept. In the context of principle-based concept analysis, each guiding principle facilitates an understanding of the strengths and limitations inherent in the current state of the concept within the scientific literature.