This steps relates to developing criteria by which to determine whether goals, methods, and conditions either identified in existing theories or formulated for this specific theory are appropriate. These criteria will aid in setting basic parameters and refining which goals, methods, and conditions fit the rubric for this theory. After establishing the goal criteria, the specific intended goals for the instructional theory and identified. Once the goals are identified, then the appropriate methods and strategies necessary to realize the instructional goals of the theory are formulated. Once identified, the developer must insure that these methods will provide cohesion and comprehensiveness as related to the stated purpose and scope of the theory.
Conditions are the other component of the interdependent triad of goals, methods, and conditions.
Conditions need to be established to indicate when the instructional theory is most appropriately used. Create a variable taxonomy. Once the paradigm has been selected and the goals, methods, and conditions determined, then the last preliminary activity for building a model prototype can be done. First the developer groups the methods and conditions into categories by commonalties. The developer then creates a variable taxonomy which shows the relationships between the goals, methods, and conditions.