Characteristics of Middle Range Theories

• Ideas are relatively simple and general.

• Consider a limited number of variables or concepts
• Have a substantive focus
• Consider a limited aspect of reality
• Can be tested empirically
• Focus on client problems and outcomes
• May specify an area of practice, client age range, nursing actions or interventions, and outcomes .

Frequently Used Middle Range Theories

• Are clearly stated and easy to understand
• Consistent and coherent
• Deal with current nursing perspectives
• Address relevant topics that solve persistent problems
• Can easily be adopted to guide nursing practice

Concepts and Relationship Statements of Middle Range Theories

• Middle range theories consist of two or more concepts and specified relationship(s) between the
concepts.

• Concepts should be discrete, observable, and sufficiently abstract to be applied across multiple
settings.

● Middle range theories link discrete and observable phenomena or concepts in relationships
statements are explicitly stated and preferably, they are unidirectional.

• Examples of middle range concepts

❏ Health promotion
❏ Comfort
❏ Coping
❏ Resilience
❏ Uncertainty
❏ Pain
❏ Grief
❏ Fatigue
❏ Selfcare
❏ Adaptation
❏ Self-transcendence
 Comparison of Grand, Middle Range, and Practice Theories

Grand Middle Range Practice

Complexity/ Comprehensive, global Middle view of reality Narrow view; simple

Abstractness

Generalizability/ Nonspecific to setting May be generalized to Linked to special

Specificity or specialty multiple settings groups or type of
practice

Concepts Abstract, not Limited number of Single, concrete

operationalized concrete concept

Testability Not testable May generate testable Goals and outcomes

hypotheses Testable

Source of Thoughtful appraisal; Evolve from grand Derived from practice

development many years theories, practice, and practice or middle
literature range theories