Phillips L R
J Gerontol Nurs. 1990 Sep;16(9):20-4. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-19900901-08.
Causal modeling involves the development of causal hypotheses to explain a particular phenomenon and the testing of causal assertions through systematic data collection and analysis procedures. Although more research is being conducted gerontological nurse scientists have generally failed to logically develop and systematically test theories that unify, organize, and consolidate knowledge into schemes that explain, describe, and predict. Causal modeling combines theory and research, and because the interpretation of data is possible only within the context of the proposed theory, it offers an important method for advancing the science while maintaining the specificity of the practice.
因果模型构建包括提出因果假设以解释特定现象，以及通过系统的数据收集和分析程序来检验因果论断。尽管老年护理科学家开展了更多研究，但他们普遍未能从逻辑上构建并系统检验那些将知识统一、组织和整合为能进行解释、描述和预测的体系的理论。因果模型构建将理论与研究结合起来，而且由于只有在所提出理论的背景下才有可能对数据进行解释，所以它为推动科学发展同时保持实践的特异性提供了一种重要方法。
