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NursingDiscussion postResearch methods

DNP 820 Topic 2 DQ 2: perception and paradigm

The interesting answer refuses the forced choice: a perception can be a subjective experience and an objective fact about a person at the same time, and pain measurement is where that plays out daily.

Editorial process

Last reviewed · August 15, 2026

01

The dichotomy is the thing being tested

Get the paradigm vocabulary right first, because the terms are used loosely in nursing writing. An objectivist or post-positivist position holds that there is a reality independent of observers, approached through measurement that reduces but never eliminates error. A subjectivist or constructivist position holds that reality as it matters here is constructed through experience and meaning, so multiple realities coexist and the researcher's job is to understand rather than to measure. The nursing claim that the patient's perception is the patient's reality sounds constructivist at first reading and the discipline's own commitments point that way, from Watson's caring theory to phenomenological research to the routine clinical instruction that pain is what the patient says it is. Naming the discipline's own commitments here is what earns the reader's patience for the objection that follows.That reading is not wrong, and it is also not the whole answer, which is what the next paragraph is for.

The stronger post then refuses the forced choice, because the dichotomy is what is really being examined. A patient's perception is a subjective experience and simultaneously an objective fact about that person: their reported pain is real data, it can be recorded, trended and used to test whether an intervention worked, and treating it that way is not a betrayal of its subjectivity. Pain measurement is the clearest illustration — a numerical rating scale takes something irreducibly subjective and makes it tractable to quantitative analysis without claiming the number is the experience. Critical realism is the position that names this properly, holding that a real world exists while our access to it is always mediated by perspective. Whichever way you go, explain your reasoning as the prompt asks, and say what your position implies for method: if perception is data, it can be measured; if it is meaning, it must be interpreted; and most DNP projects need both.

Likely learning objectives

Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.

  • 01
    Use objectivist and constructivist paradigm language precisely.
  • 02
    Test a dichotomy rather than choosing between its options.
  • 03
    Connect a philosophical position to methodological consequences.
  • 04
    Use a clinical example to ground an abstract argument.
Assignment instructionsQuoted verbatim

Read the full question

Review every instruction before using the planning guidance that follows.

Within nursing, the patient’s perception is recognized as the patient’s reality. How does this way of knowing in nursing fit within an objective or subjective paradigm of the world? Explain your reasoning.
Course-wide instructions that accompany this question

Important information for writing discussion questions and participation Hi Class, Please read through the following information on writing a Discussion question response and participation posts. Contact me if you have any questions. Important information on Writing a Discussion Question Your response needs to be a minimum of 150 words (not including your list of references) There needs to be at least TWO references with ONE being a peer reviewed professional journal article. Include in-text citations in your response Do not include quotes—instead summarize and paraphrase the information Follow APA-7th edition Points will be deducted if the above is not followed Participation –replies to your classmates or instructor A minimum of 6 responses per week, on at least 3 days of the week. Each response needs at least ONE reference with citations—best if it is a peer reviewed journal article Each response needs to be at least 75 words in length (does not include your list of references) Responses need to be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Responses of “I agree” or “great post” does not count for the word count. Follow APA 7th edition Points will be deducted if the above is not followed Remember to use and follow APA-7th edition for all weekly assignments, discussion questions, and participation points. Here are some helpful links Student paper example Citing Sources The Writing Center is a great resource Welcome to class DNP 820 Topic 2 DQ 2 Within nursing, the patient’s perception is recognized as the patient’s reality Hello class and welcome to the class and I will be your instructor for this course. This is a -week course and requires a lot of time commitment, organization, and a high level of dedication. Please use the class syllabus to guide you through all the assignments required for the course. I have also attached the classroom policies to this announcement to know your expectations for this course. Please review this document carefully and ask me any questions if you do. You could email me at any time or send me a message via the “message” icon in halo if you need to contact me. I check my email regularly, so you should get a response within 24 hours. If you have not heard from me within 24 hours and need to contact me urgently, please send a follow up text to. I strongly encourage that you do not wait until the very last minute to complete your assignments. Your assignments in weeks 4 and 5 require early planning as you would need to present a teaching plan and interview a community health provider. I advise you look at the requirements for these assignments at the beginning of the course and plan accordingly. I have posted the YouTube link that explains all the class assignments in detail. It is required that you watch this 32-minute video as the assignments from week 3 through 5 require that you follow the instructions to the letter to succeed. Failure to complete these assignments according to instructions might lead to a zero. After watching the video, please schedule a one-on-one with me to discuss your topic for your project by the second week of class. Use this link to schedule a 15-minute session. Please, call me at the time of your appointment on my number. Please note that I will NOT call you. Please, be advised I do NOT accept any assignments by email. If you are having technical issues with uploading an assignment, contact the technical department and inform me of the issue. If you have any issues that would prevent you from getting your assignments to me by the deadline, please inform me to request a possible extension. Note that working fulltime or overtime is no excuse for late assignments. There is a 5%-point deduction for every day your assignment is late. This only applies to approved extensions. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you think you would be needing accommodations due to any reasons, please contact the appropriate department to request accommodations. Plagiarism is highly prohibited. Please ensure you are citing your sources correctly using APA 7th edition. All assignments including discussion posts should be formatted in APA with the appropriate spacing, font, margin, and indents. Any papers not well formatted would be returned back to you, hence, I advise you review APA formatting style. I have attached a sample paper in APA format and will also post sample discussion responses in subsequent announcements. Your initial discussion post should be a minimum of 200 words and response posts should be a minimum of 150 words. Be advised that I grade based on quality and not necessarily the number of words you post. A minimum of TWO references should be used for your initial post. For your response post, you do not need references as personal experiences would count as response posts. If you however cite anything from the literature for your response post, it is required that you cite your reference. You should include a minimum of THREE references for papers in this course. Please note that references should be no more than 5 years old except recommended as a resource for the class. Furthermore, for each discussion board question, you need ONE initial substantive response and TWO substantive responses to either your classmates or your instructor for a total of THREE responses. There are TWO discussion questions each week, hence, you need a total minimum of SIX discussion posts for each week. I usually post a discussion question each week. You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week. I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course! Name: Discussion Rubric Grid View List View Excellent 90–100 Good 80–89 Fair 70–79 Poor 0–69 Main Posting: Response to the Discussion question is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. 40 (40%) – 44 (44%) Thoroughly responds to the Discussion question(s). Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three current credible sources. 35 (35%) – 39 (39%) Responds to most of the Discussion question(s). Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible references. 31 (31%) – 34 (34%) Responds to some of the Discussion question(s). One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Cited with fewer than two credible references. 0 (0%) – 30 (30%) Does not respond to the Discussion question(s). Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible references. Main Posting: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Written clearly and concisely. Contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Written concisely. May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Written somewhat concisely. May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. Main Posting: Timely and full participation 9 (9%) – 10 (10%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Posts main Discussion by due date. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post main Discussion by due date. First Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. First Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. First Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Second Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Second Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. Second Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Total Points: 100 Name: Discussion Rubric

02

Turn the brief into deliverables

  1. 01
    Definitions of the objective and subjective paradigms.
  2. 02
    The nursing claim examined against both.
  3. 03
    A stated position with reasoning.
  4. 04
    The methodological consequence of that position.
03

The claim, the paradigms, then your position

01

The two paradigms

Define objectivist and constructivist positions on what reality is and how it is known.

02

Where the nursing claim sits

Place perception-as-reality against both and show what each reading implies.

03

Testing the dichotomy

Argue that a perception can be both subjective experience and objective datum.

04

The methodological consequence

Say what your position implies about measuring and interpreting perception.

04

Paradigm language used precisely

Recommended databases

  • Nursing Philosophy
  • CINAHL
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • PubMed Central

Search sequence

  1. 1.
    Read a précis of research paradigms so the terms are used as the literature uses them.
  2. 2.
    Find one nursing paper that argues explicitly for a paradigm position.
  3. 3.
    Look at how a validated patient-reported outcome measure justifies quantifying experience.
  4. 4.
    Search critical realism AND nursing for the position that holds both together.
05

Reference shortlist

These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.

Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.

  1. 01

    The Problem of Induction

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy · 2024

    Why every empirical position rests on assumptions not derived from evidence, which is what makes the paradigm question substantive.

  2. 02

    Reframing the environment domain of the nursing metaparadigm: Exploring space, place, and technology

    Belitung Nursing Journal · 2024

    A nursing concept being reworked philosophically, showing the discipline arguing about what counts as real.

  3. 03

    Evidence-Based Medicine

    StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2024

    How evidence is graded, which is where an objectivist commitment becomes visible in practice.

  4. 04

    JBI Critical Appraisal Tools

    JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute), University of Adelaide · 2024

    Separate appraisal standards for qualitative and quantitative work, the methodological consequence made concrete.

06

Review before submission

Common mistakes

  • Using subjective to mean unreliable.
  • Accepting the dichotomy without examining it.
  • Stating a position with no reasoning, when the prompt asks for reasoning.
  • Never reaching a methodological consequence.
  • Treating measurement of a perception as a denial of its subjectivity.

Submission checklist

  • Are both paradigms defined before the claim is placed?
  • Have you examined whether the dichotomy holds?
  • Is there a clinical example carrying the argument?
  • Is the reasoning explicit?
  • Does the post reach a consequence for method?

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Aaron Bishop

MA, Education

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PhD, Rhetoric & Composition

Argumentation and thesis development

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