title: Concept analysis and the building blocks of theory: misconceptions regarding theory development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to discuss the attempts to justify concepts analysis as a way to construct theory - a notion often advocated in nursing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The notion that concepts are the building blocks or threads from which theory is constructed is often repeated. It can be found in many articles and well-known textbooks. However, this notion is seldom explained or defended. The notion of concepts as building blocks has also been questioned by several authors. However, most of these authors seem to agree to some degree that concepts are essential components from which theory is built.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discussion paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature was reviewed to synthesize and debate current knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our point is that theory is not built by concepts analysis or clarification and we will show that this notion has its basis in some serious misunderstandings. We argue that concept analysis is not a part of sound scientific method and should be abandoned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current methods of concept analysis in nursing have no foundation in philosophy of science or in language philosophy. The type of concept analysis performed in nursing is not a way to 'construct' theory. Rather, theories are formed by creative endeavour to propose a solution to a scientific and/or practical problem. The bottom line is that the current style and form of concept analysis in nursing should be abandoned in favour of methods in line with modern theory of science.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Unit, FOU nu, SLSO, Stockholm, Sweden.|Faculty of Professional Studies, Nursing Science, Nord University, Bodö, Norway.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergdahl
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Berterö
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing
keywords: concept analysis; epistemology; nursing theory; philosophy; research methods