THEORETICAL SUBSTRUCTION - A GUIDE FOR THEORY TESTING RESEARCH

This article demonstrates how theoretical substruction with its variou s levels of abstraction can be used as a guide for theory testing rese arch. The article describes a method for substructing research hypothe ses as well as an entire study. Substruction and its benefits, includi ng assuring the internal consistency of model testing, are discussed a s applied to a study testing hypotheses derived from proposition two o f Orem's self-care deficit theory of nursing. This approach to theory testing is congruent with the coherence theory of truth and promises t o contribute to the advancement of nursing epistemology.