The document discusses different ways of categorizing nursing theory, including by scope or level of abstraction, purpose, and source/discipline. It also covers the components and development of theory, and the relationship between theory, research, and practice. Theory development seeks to understand practice, identify and express ideas, and organize existing knowledge.

1. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Chapter 4
Theory Development:
Structuring Conceptual
Relationships in Nursing

2. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Categorization of Theory
• Often categorized using different criteria
– Scope or level of abstraction
– Purpose of theory
– Source or discipline

3. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Question
Theory development in nursing seeks which of the
following?
A. Understand practice
B. Identify and express ideas
C. Organize existing knowledge
D. All of the above

4. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Answer
D. All of the above
Rationale: Theory development helps nursing to
understand practice, provides a method for identifying
and expressing key ideas, helps organize existing
knowledge, and makes new discoveries to advance the
practice of nursing.

5. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Based on Scope or Level of Abstraction
• Philosophy, Worldview or Metatheory
• Grand Theories
• Middle Range Theories
• Practice Theories
• Relationship Among Levels of Theory in Nursing

6. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Based on Purpose
• Descriptive Theories
• Explanatory Theories
• Predictive Theories
• Prescriptive Theories

7. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Based on Source or Discipline
• Nursing
• Behavioral Sciences
• Biologic Sciences
• Sociologic Sciences
• Learning Theories
• Organizational Theories
• Management Theories

8. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Components of a Theory
• Purpose
• Concepts and conceptual definitions
• Theoretical statements
• Structure and linkages
• Assumptions
• Models

9. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Theory Development
• Relationship among theory, research, and practice
• Approaches to theory development
• Process of theory development

10. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Question
Tell whether the following statement is true or false:
The process and methods used to create, modify, or refine
a theory is explanatory of theory development.

11. Copyright © 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Answer
True
Rationale: Theory development is a global term used to
refer to the methods of creating a theory.