Using magnitude estimation scaling to examine the validity of nursing diagnoses.

This paper describes the use of magnitude estimation scaling in the validation of the critical defining characteristics of nursing diagnoses. Magnitude estimation is a sensitive and accurate technique producing ratio level scales that offer advantages over ordinal level scales frequently used in validating nursing diagnoses. Magnitude estimation responses permit a consensus pattern to be achieved by producing stable and repeatable judgments to validate the importance of each sign and symptom investigated. Thus, magnitude estimation shows promise as a methodologic strategy for validating the critical defining characteristics of nursing diagnoses, thereby expanding the effort to identify and classify nursing phenomena.