The effects of changing trends in philosophies of science on nursing theory development and testing are analyzed. Two philosophies of science—logical empiricism and historicism—are compared for four variables: (1) components of science, (2) conception of science, (3) assessment of scientific progress, and (4) goal of philosophy of science. These factors serve as the basis for assessing trends in the development and testing of nursing theory from 1964 to the present. The analysis shows a beginning philosophic shift within nursing theory from logical empiricism to historicism and addresses implications and recommendations for future nursing theory development and testing.

© 1984 Aspen Publishers, Inc.