Table 2.

Challenges and mitigations in the evaluation of theory.

Scenario	Confounding	Theory depth	Conflation	Status pooling
Synopsis	Theory-based studies have better design and implementation features than non-theory-based studies.	Theory was used to different degrees in studies designated as theory-based.	Models are treated equally to theories.	Theories with different evidentiary statuses are pooled.
Mitigations	Utilize original research designed to compare theory-based interventions with evidence-informed atheoretical interventions. Conduct sensitivity analysis during meta-analysis to assess, adjust for and moderate on study quality.	Report specific features of each study that were determined by theory application. Limit and adjust for type and level of theory application.	Apply lexical and conceptual distinctions between models and theory. Include analyses that limit evaluations to theory.	Differentiate between untested theories that have merely been proposed from those that have survived strong tests and are considered correct in application.