Narayan S M, Corcoran-Perry S
School of Nursing, Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN 55106-5000, USA.
Res Nurs Health. 1997 Aug;20(4):353-64. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199708)20:4<353::aid-nur8>3.0.co;2-f.
Line of reasoning (LOR) is offered as an alternative representation of clinical decision making for studies using protocol analysis. A LOR is defined as an argument or set of arguments leading to a conclusion. Because LOR combines both knowledge and cognitive processes, it provides a more complete representation of how a person uses knowledge to make a decision in a particular situation than do other representations. Operationalization of LOR in the form of templates and narratives enhances systematic data interpretation and coding. The use of LOR as a representation is illustrated in a study of critical care nurses' clinical decision making, specifically the determination of a patient's readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation.
