How to critically analyse a concept The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of a concept: key variables identified clear and well-defined meaningful logical relevant up-to-date Evaluating Concepts Strengths Weaknesses Key variables or constructs identified key variables or constructs omitted or missed Clear, well-defined, specific, precise ambiguous, vague, ill-defined, overly general, imprecise, not sufficiently distinctive overinclusive, too broad, or narrowly defined Meaningful, useful conceptually flawed Logical contradictory Relevant questionable relevance Up-to-date out of date Critical analysis examples of concepts Many researchers have used the concept of control in different ways. There is little consensus about what constitutes automaticity. Putting forth a very general definition of motivation means that it is possible that any behaviour could be included. The concept of global education lacks clarity, is imprecisely defined and is overly complex. Some have questioned the usefulness of resilience as a concept because it has been used so often and in so many contexts. Research suggests that the concept of preoperative fasting is an outdated clinical approach.