The theoretical framework is given in the first portion of a dissertation and explains why you are researching to address a specific research issue.

Consider the theoretical framework as a conceptual model that provides a feeling of direction for your study. It gives context for your inquiry and explains your study of a specific research topic to the reader. It contains the variables you want to track as well as the connections you want to figure out. Basically, here is where you come up with a “hypothesis” and make a case for researching it. Your theoretical framework is a presentation of a theory that explains a specific issue. However, it isn’t just dependent on your suspicions… Please continue reading.

Theoretical Framework Definition

The theoretical framework summarizes your hypothesis about a specific issue that you create after reviewing your previously tested understanding of the variables involved. It establishes a strategy for investigating and interpreting the results. The theoretical framework has well-supported reasoning and is structured so that the reader can comprehend and evaluate your viewpoint. The goal is to show that the connections you suggest are derived from data gathered from authors of prior study, rather than on your own intuition or assumptions.

Significance of the Theoretical Framework?

The creation of a theoretical framework aids in the clarification of your implicit theory in a more specified way. It assists you in considering other frameworks and reducing biases that may influence your understanding. Alternative theories that may challenge your viewpoint will be considered as you build your theoretical framework. You’ll also think about the limits of your theory and whether or not alternative theoretical frameworks might help you understand your issue better.

The theoretical framework describes how you think about the nature of your research issue, its foundation, and the methodology you’ll use to look into it. This framework dictates how you see, understand, and make meaning of your facts. The reader will get a better understanding of your viewpoint and background if you explain the theoretical framework.

Steps to Create a Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework is linked to your assessment of the topic’s knowledge (the literature review). This is most likely how you framed your research issue in the first place. You looked through the literature and discovered certain inconsistencies in the explanations for certain occurrences. The theoretical framework enables you to discuss your research issue in the context of a literature review.

The reader can grasp the hypothesized connections thanks to your explanation of the variables of interest in the context of the literature review. Begin by explaining what is known about your variables, their connection, and what can be explained so far. You’ll look into other researchers’ ideas about these connections and develop a hypothesis (or a set of hypotheses) that explains your main research issue. Essentially, your objective is to communicate to the reader why you believe your variables are linked, and prior research and theories that support your view are required to support your reasoning. You apply the theory to your issue and make predictions or hypotheses about possible connections. You inform the reader what you’re hoping to learn from your study.

Developing a Theoretical Framework: a Step-By-Step Guide

As the most important part of your dissertation, the theoretical framework will serve as the lens through which your readers will assess your study. It’s also an important element of your writing and research procedures since it’ll serve as the foundation for all written sections.

The stages for creating a theoretical framework are as follows:

First, finish your review of the literature

You’ll need to address research that has previously been done by others, as well as gaps in the research, to determine the breadth of your theoretical framework. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why you’ll need to finish your literature review before you can create a theoretical framework for your dissertation or thesis.

Stated, you must first identify where the gaps are and how they may be filled before doing a significant study on a subject or idea. It’s essential to indicate within your theoretical framework whether you’ve filled any gaps in the literature via your study, as will be discussed in a later stage. It’s also crucial to understand the research that has established the groundwork for current knowledge, including any ideas, assumptions, or studies that you may use to support your own. You’re more likely to create duplicate research if you skip this stage, which means your study won’t be published.

Recognize the value of a theoretical framework

One of the essential steps in presenting a research issue is to give context and background for that problem. This gives your reader a sense of the breadth and purpose of your study while also providing you something to write about. The theoretical framework of your dissertation, like a blueprint for a house, must give essential context to all of the builders and experts engaged in the construction process.

As a result, many aspects must be addressed and described while developing your theoretical framework, including:

The definition of any ideas or notions you’re developing or investigating (this is especially important if it is a theory taken from another discipline or is relatively new).

The setting in which this idea has previously been investigated

The significant literature on the idea or theory that has already been published, with citations.

The situation in which you want to investigate the idea or hypothesis. You may briefly describe your planned techniques and methods that have been utilized in the past—but bear in mind that they will be presented in-depth in a different part of your dissertation.

Any research gaps that you’d want to fill

Those limits that previous researchers have experienced and any that you have encountered during your own study.

Essentially, your theoretical framework aids the reader in gaining a broad grasp of the study issue, how it has been studied before, and where your research fits within that scope. Since a result, maintain it in the present tense, as this is now being conducted. You may use the past tense to allude to other people’s studies, but anything relating to your own research should be expressed in the present.

Use your theoretical framework to justify your research

In your literature review, you’ll look for research that is relevant to your own topic. This may include literature that develops ideas or offers relevant analytic models related to your study. Then, in your own theoretical framework, you’ll cite these theories or models and explain why they’re the foundation of—or important to—your study.

Consider your theoretical framework as a fast and effective method to persuade your reader why this study is essential. If you’re building on previous research, your theoretical framework should explain the basis that other academics have built and why it’s essential to build on it or how it has to be applied to a more contemporary idea. If there are study gaps on particular subjects or ideas, and your research addresses such gaps, be sure to include them in your theoretical framework. It’s your chance to defend your work in a scientific setting, both to your dissertation committee and to any journals that may be interested in publishing your work.

It should be three to five pages long

While there are no hard and fast rules about how long your theoretical framework should be, it is typically kept to three to five pages. This length should be sufficient to present your reader with all pertinent information without detailing the theories or assumptions stated. You’ve probably failed to give a concise explanation for a theory, idea, or previous research if you find yourself requiring many additional pages to create your theoretical framework. Remember that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to extend and elaborate on these ideas, previous research, methodologies, and hypotheses when you write your dissertation. These particulars have no place in your theoretical framework.

Consider your theoretical framework to be an extended abstract if you’ve authored an abstract. It should provide a broad overview of your study without getting into too much detail about the methodology or background. In many instances, whittling the theoretical framework down to three to five pages is a process of evaluating if further information is required to ensure your reader’s comprehension.

Models and other visuals may be used

Because your theoretical framework should explain complex ideas or assumptions linked to your study, it’s common to incorporate models and other useful visuals to accomplish this goal. If you’re short on space, most formats will let you include these drawings or models in the appendix of your work and refer to them from the main text.

Difference Between a Theoretical and a Conceptual Framework?

A conceptual framework is a researcher’s suggestion for how the study issue should be investigated. This is based on a theoretical framework that has a considerably wider resolution scale. The theoretical framework is based on tried-and-true ideas that include the results of many studies into how events occur.

The theoretical framework depicts the connections between objects in a particular event in broad terms. On the other hand, the conceptual framework encapsulates the particular direction in which the study must proceed. The conceptual framework, in statistical terms, defines the connection between the study’s particular variables. It also describes the investigation’s input, methodology, and outcome. The research paradigm is another name for the conceptual framework.

Similarities Between Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks?

The theoretical framework uses a relevant theory from the literature to explain why the present research issue arises. However, the function of a theory in a research project is thought to be determined by the research paradigm. As a result, while doing research, one must examine their viewpoint. In fact, both describe the research study’s future path while justifying the research endeavor to ensure that the results are more relevant, acceptable, and generalizable.

Examples of the Theoretical and the Conceptual Framework

The following examples on both ideas will help to clarify the distinction between theoretical and conceptual frameworks:

Theoretical Framework: Stimulus elicits a response.

Conceptual Framework: New teaching approach improves students’ academic performance.

Notice how the theoretical framework varies from the conceptual framework in terms of scope in the illustrated case. The theoretical framework describes a wider connection between objects. A reaction is anticipated when a stimulus is applied. This connection is defined much more precisely in the conceptual framework. The conceptual framework lays forth the factors that must be investigated throughout the inquiry. The stimulus is represented by the variable “teaching technique,” while the reaction is represented by “students’ academic achievement.” The variables indicate the kind of statistical analysis that will be required to examine the connection.

Best Ways for Students to Develop Their Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks?

Students must study literature related to their selected research subject to develop their own theoretical and conceptual frameworks that will drive the research. Students must read extensively to learn about what has already been researched in their areas and to create their own synthesis of the literature. They should search for knowledge gaps and determine what questions need to be addressed or issues to be solved. As a result, students will be able to develop their own conceptual framework to drive their study.

Importance of a Theoretical and Conceptual Framework in Research

A theoretical or conceptual framework strongly supports academic standards and scholastic functions. It explains why the research is important, relevant, and legitimate and how the scholar plans to fill in the gaps in the body of knowledge.

When the research investigation is framed by theoretical concerns and begins with a well-defined theoretical framework, it offers a theory-driven approach to contemporary thinking. It allows for discussions on theoretical contributions to current research in a particular field. A formal theory establishes the context for the data collection, analysis, and conclusion of the research study’s occurrences.

A research study that incorporates a theoretical framework, on the other hand, makes the thesis more strong and well-structured, with a smooth and consistent flow. The structure and direction of the research effort become unclear, elusive, and hazy in the absence of a well-thought-out theoretical framework.