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Chapter 4
Theory Development:
Structuring Conceptual
Relationships in Nursing

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Categorization of Theory
• Often categorized using different criteria
– Scope or level of abstraction
– Purpose of theory
– Source or discipline

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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

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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.

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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

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Based on Purpose
• Descriptive Theories
• Explanatory Theories
• Predictive Theories
• Prescriptive Theories

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Based on Source or Discipline
• Nursing
• Behavioral Sciences
• Biologic Sciences
• Sociologic Sciences
• Learning Theories
• Organizational Theories
• Management Theories

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Components of a Theory
• Purpose
• Concepts and conceptual definitions
• Theoretical statements
• Structure and linkages
• Assumptions
• Models

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Theory Development
• Relationship among theory, research, and practice
• Approaches to theory development
• Process of theory development

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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.

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Answer
True
Rationale: Theory development is a global term used to
refer to the methods of creating a theory.