title: Using magnitude estimation scaling to examine the validity of nursing diagnoses.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Guzzetta
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results