DQ 2 : Evaluate the components of theory and the contribution of theory development.
The brief arrives as three objectives rather than a question. The third — testing, evaluation and translation — is the one that makes this different from the usual theory post.
Editorial process
Last reviewed · August 18, 2026
The parts a theory is made of, and how one gets built
Take the components first and name them properly. A theory is built from concepts, which are the abstractions it works with; definitions, which fix what each concept means and, when operational, how it would be measured; propositions or statements, which assert relationships between concepts; and assumptions, which are taken as given rather than argued. Add the conceptual model or framework as the organising structure above them. That vocabulary makes the rest of the post possible, because theory development is precisely the work of identifying concepts, defining them, and stating how they relate — whether inductively from observation and qualitative data, or deductively by borrowing a framework from another discipline and adapting it. Nursing has done both, and the borrowing has been criticised as well as praised, which is worth a sentence. Getting the vocabulary right first is what makes the development and testing sections writable at all.
The contribution of theory development to the discipline is the argument to make rather than assume: theory is what turned nursing knowledge from accumulated practice wisdom into something that can be stated, disputed and tested, and it is what gives the discipline a vocabulary distinct from medicine's. Then the third objective, which is where most posts stop early. Theory testing means deriving a prediction and checking it, which requires concepts operationalised into measurable variables — and a great many nursing theories have never been tested because their central concepts resist measurement. Theory evaluation is different: it appraises a theory on clarity, simplicity, generality, empirical precision and derivable consequences, and it can be done without any data at all. Translation is the third step, moving a tested theory into practice through protocols, assessments and education. Say which of the three your own project will actually be doing, because most DNP projects translate rather than test.
Likely learning objectives
- Name the structural components of a theory and what each does.
- Describe inductive and deductive routes to theory development.
- Distinguish theory testing from theory evaluation.
- Identify which activity a specific project actually performs.
Assignment instructions
Read the full question
Review every instruction before using the planning guidance that follows.
DNP 815 Topic 2: Nursing Theory – Guided Practice DQ 2 : Evaluate the components of theory and the contribution of theory development. Objectives: 1. Evaluate the components of theory and the contribution of theory development. Page 9 Grand Canyon University 2022 © Prepared on: Aug 5, 2022 2. Analyze nursing theories and their application to nursing practice. 3. Describe theory testing, evaluation, and translation for practice.
Turn the brief into deliverables
- 01The components: concepts, definitions, propositions, assumptions.
- 02Both routes to theory development.
- 03An argument for what theory contributed to the discipline.
- 04The distinction between testing, evaluation and translation.
- 05A statement of which your own project performs.
Components, development, then testing and translation
What a theory is made of
Define concepts, definitions, propositions and assumptions.
What the assessor is likely looking for
An operational definition distinguished from a conceptual one.
How theories get built
Contrast inductive derivation with deductive borrowing.
What the assessor is likely looking for
A nursing example of each route.
What theory contributed
Argue the disciplinary contribution rather than assert it.
What the assessor is likely looking for
A contribution stated as something now possible that was not.
Testing against evaluation
Separate deriving and checking predictions from appraising a theory's qualities.
What the assessor is likely looking for
The measurement precondition for testing.
Translation, and your own project
Describe translation and identify which activity your project performs.
What the assessor is likely looking for
An honest classification of the student's own work.
Where theory structure and evaluation are described
Recommended databases
- PubMed Central
- CINAHL Complete
- NCBI Bookshelf
- Journal of Nursing Management
Search sequence
- 1.Read a source on theory structure before writing about components.
- 2.Find an example of a nursing theory that has actually been tested empirically.
- 3.Look for a theory evaluation paper to see what evaluation criteria look like in use.
- 4.Decide honestly whether your project tests or translates.
Reference shortlist
These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.
Trends and Hotspots in Nursing Theory Research Published from 1990 to 2022
Journal of Nursing Management · 2024
Trends and hotspots in nursing theory research — which theories have been tested and which have not.
Self-care deficit nursing theory
Wikipedia · 2025
A worked example of a theory with named concepts, definitions and propositions.
Qualitative Study
StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2023
Qualitative methods, the inductive route to concept and theory development.
Hypothesis Testing, P Values, Confidence Intervals, and Significance
StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2023
Hypothesis testing, the machinery a theory test actually uses.
Nurses' roles in changing practice through implementing best practices: A systematic review
Health SA Gesondheid · 2022
Nurses implementing best practice — translation, which is what most projects do.
Review before submission
Common mistakes
- Listing theorists instead of describing theory components.
- Treating theory testing and theory evaluation as the same activity.
- Assuming the contribution of theory rather than arguing it.
- Claiming a DNP project tests a theory when it translates one.
Submission checklist
- Are all four components named and explained?
- Have you covered both development routes?
- Is testing distinguished from evaluation?
- Have you mentioned that some concepts resist measurement?
- Have you said which activity your project performs?
Use this guide to plan and review your own work. Follow your institution's rules and read Brinevia's academic-integrity policy.
Written by
Maren Caldwell
MSN, RN, CNE
Medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology and NCLEX preparation
Maren is a registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and educational experience in medical-surgical nursing. She writes on NCLEX preparation, patient care fundamentals, pharmacology and evidence-based practice.
Reviewed by
Dr. Tessa Redmond
DNP, RN, CNE
Evidence-based practice and clinical education
Tessa is a doctorally-prepared nurse educator. She reviews Brinevia content for clinical accuracy and alignment with current evidence-based guidelines.