Science and Paradigm Trends in Nursing

Nursing is both an art and a science. The art of nursing involves the ability to grasp meaning in patient encounters, while the science of nursing emphasizes experimentation and generalization. The scientific mainstream between the 1940s and 1960s centered on "logical positivism", which constituted the paradigm assumption of quantitative research. Professor Tomas S. Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", published in 1962, first conceptualized the paradigm of science. Since then, the word "paradigm" has become a core concept of social science research methodology, representing a set of basic belief systems that may also be considered a worldview (Kuhn, 2012/2021). Kuhn's "paradigm shift" led to changes in both scientific theoretical systems and the epistemology and methodology of contemporary scientists. After "historicism" became a paradigm assumption of qualitative research in the 1960s, social science research entered an era marked by the coexistence of multiple paradigms. Since the 1990s, mixed-methods research has become another accepted trend in social science research (Hung et al., 2010). Nursing research paradigms mainly involve quantitative and qualitative approaches. The former, based on positivism, focuses on deductive reasoning, quantification, data analysis, and objective inference, while the latter, based on constructivism and criticism, focuses on inductive reasoning, written descriptions, and subjective insight. In terms of "ontology", positivists believe the external world human beings perceive with their senses to be the "real" and understandable reality. "Epistemology" involves the search for rules and general concepts that explain "truth" and obtain objective truths, emphasizing the meaningfulness of verified knowledge. "Methodology" involves using quantitative methods and controlling "experiments" to verify hypotheses and to analyze and explore social phenomena with numerical measurements and statistical analysis in hopes of obtaining regular knowledge. Generalizability is highly valued. The basic assumptions of constructivism are that realities are multiple and interrelated, subjective experiences are as legitimate as objective information, an interactive unity exists between researcher and participant, the world is dynamic, truth is found in changing patterns, and uniqueness is highly valued (Hung et al., 2010; Reed & Shearer, 2012). What issues are worth investigating? Research topic sources may be derived from experience, the scientific literature, theory, and professional and social issues as well as from ideas gleaned from external sources. Thinking about research questions, choosing appropriate research methods, creating knowledge through scientific research, and publishing research results in journals to disseminate knowledge are all part of a process in which the ultimate goal is to apply empirical and innovative knowledge in the pursuit of social progress, which is a major trend in today's academia. Most of the articles in this issue of The Journal of Nursing Research use quantitative research. These include one longitudinal, prospective cohort study designed to explore social relationships and physical functions and four cross-sectional studies designed to investigate standard precaution knowledge and intentions, work–family conflict and professional identification, and depression in family caregivers of patients with stroke as well as carry out a psychometric evaluation of the Capstone Core Competency Scale. Furthermore, this issue includes three intervention studies that address gum chewing in middle-aged and older patients who had undergone open abdominal surgery, self-management programs for caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis, and elastic band exercises for older adults living in long-term care facilities. Finally, the two qualitative studies in this study explore meaning of life in women with breast cancer and the impact of the physical environment on the experience of providing and using palliative care. Congratulations to all of the authors for publishing your scholarly works in The Journal of Nursing Research. The publishers hope that readers gain innovative knowledge from the articles that may be used to advance clinical practice and social progress. We welcome your feedback and suggestions.