The Application of Content Analysis in Nursing Science Research

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. Content Analysis

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Qualitative Research and Content Analysis

      • Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 3-11

   3. Inductive Content Analysis

      • Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 13-21

   4. Deductive Content Analysis

      • Helvi Kyngäs, Pirjo Kaakinen

      Pages 23-30

   5. Content Analysis in Mixed Methods Research

      • Kristina Mikkonen, Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 31-40

   6. The Trustworthiness of Content Analysis

      • Helvi Kyngäs, Maria Kääriäinen, Satu Elo

      Pages 41-48

   7. Qualitative Research: Ethical Considerations

      • Anna-Maija Pietilä, Sanna-Maria Nurmi, Arja Halkoaho, Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 49-69

3. Integrating Content Analysis into Theory Development

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-71

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   2. Theory Development from the Results of Content Analysis

      • Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 73-84

   3. Instrument Development Based on Content Analysis

      • Maria Kääriäinen, Kristina Mikkonen, Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 85-93

   4. Statistical Testing of a Theory

      • Maria Kääriäinen, Kristina Mikkonen, Helvi Kyngäs

      Pages 95-103

   5. Content Analysis in Systematic Reviews

      • Kristina Mikkonen, Maria Kääriäinen

      Pages 105-115

This book provides principles on content analysis and its application into development of nursing theory. It offers clear guidance to students, lecturers and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the method of content analysis, its implementation into their own research and criteria of trustworthiness evaluation. The book is written in user-friendly language with provided research examples and cases, and the content is illustrated by figures and tables. The authors offer their expertise in providing a well thought through explanation of content analysis in didactical style, which will enhance university education. The book includes highly experienced researchers who have published articles on content analysis and the trustworthiness of the method with more than 10 000 citations.  


Divided into two parts, this book explores the application of content analysis into nursing science. The first part presents the philosophical position ofcontent analysis, inductive and deductive methods of using content analysis, trustworthiness of the method, and ethical consideration of using content analysis. The second part informs on the theory development based on content analysis, conceptualization of the concepts of content analysis into generation of items and instrument development, and statistical testing of a hypothetical model. The last chapter shows a new approach to using content analysis in systematic reviews and quality evaluation of methodology within systematic review process. The book is an essential tool for nursing science, providing instruction on key methodological elements in order to provide rigorously conducted empirical research for clinical practice and nursing education. 

• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Inductive and deductiveanalysis
• Trustworthiness
• Theory development
• Instrument development
• Psychometric testing
• Model testing
• Mixed methods
• Ethics
• Concept analysis
• Systematic review
• Quality assessment

• Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

  Helvi Kyngäs, Kristina Mikkonen, Maria Kääriäinen

Helvi Kyngäs is a professor of Nursing Science in the University of Oulu, Finland. She has national and international education and research experience. Her research is mostly focused on adherence to health regimens by patients with chronic disease and effective intervention to improve adherence. She has done extensive qualitative and quantitative research and is well known for an article on content analysis with more than 10 000 citations. She is a popular invited guest lecturer in many countries, giving lectures on nursing theory and theory development. She has been a keynote speaker in many nursing science and multidisciplinary research conferences. Her research has been funded by the Academy of Finland and many other well-known foundations. 


Kristina Mikkonen is a Doctor of Health Sciences from the University of Oulu, Finland. Her competence in research relates to the clinical learning environment and mentoring of healthcare students with a special focus on cultural and linguistic diversity. She coordinates major national and international research projects which address health and social care educators’ competence development; enhancement of mentors’ competence in nursing education; and the implementation of a digital health module for higher education in health sciences. Mikkonen has an extensive background in multicultural education and has obtained international working experience as a registered nurse, university teacher and researcher, which she believes give her special opportunities to integrate cultural and linguistic diversity in her professional conduct. 

Maria Kääriäinen is a professor of nursing science from the University of Oulu, Finland, and the head of the Doctoral programme in Health Sciences. She is also a consultant in Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District with a continual link within clinical nursing to improve evidence-based nursing and lead and carry out research projects there. She is a Certified Reviewer of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Her research areas are health promotive counselling and competency-based education. She has diverse methodological expertise including randomized control trials, systematic reviews with meta-analysis, cross-sectional surveys, qualitative research, and instrument and theory development.

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