Conceptual models and theories provide structure for research. Research without a theoretical base provides isolated information which may not be used or applied effectively. The challenge for nurse researchers is to identify a model or theory that would a best fit for their area of study interest. In this research series article the authors unravel the simple steps that can be followed in identifying, choosing, and applying the constructs and concepts in the models or theories to develop a research framework. A research framework guides the researcher in developing research questions, refining their hypotheses, selecting interventions, defining and measuring variables. Roy’s adaptation model and a study intending to assess the effectiveness of grief counseling on adaptation to spousal loss are used as an example in this article to depict the theory- research congruence.

The history of professional Nursing started with Florence Nightingale who envisioned nurses as a knowledgeable force who can bring positive changes in health care delivery (Alligood, 2014). It was 100 years later, during 1950s, a need to develop nursing knowledge apart from medical knowledge was felt to guide nursing practice. This beginning led to the awareness of the need to develop nursing theories (Alligood, 2010). Until then, nursing practice was based on principles and traditions that were handed down through apprenticeship model of education and individual hospital procedure manuals. It reflected the vocational heritage more than a professional vision. This transition from vocation to profession involves successive eras of history in nursing: the curriculum era, research emphasis era, research era, graduate education era, and the theory era (Alligood, 2014).

The theory era was a natural outcome of research era and graduate education era, where an understanding oí research and knowledge development increased. It became obvious that research without conceptual and theoretical framework produced isolated information. This awareness and acceptance paved way to another era, the theory utilization era, which placed emphasis on theory application in nursing practice, education, administration, and research (Alligood, 2014). Conceptual models and theories are structures that provide nurses with a perspective of the patient and the professional practice. Conceptual models provide structure for a phenomenon, direct thinking, observations, and interpretations and further provide direction for actions (Fawcett & Desanto-Madeya, 2005). In research, a framework is the underpinning of the study and if a framework is based on a theory it is called as theoretica framework and if it represents a conceptual model then it is generally called the conceptual framework. More often it is known as a research framework. However the terms conceptual framework, conceptual model theoretica framework, and research framework are often usee interchangeably (Polit & Beck, 2014).