When doing any type of research work, one of the most important aspects of it is formulating a theory and a theoretical framework. This is the structure that will support and hold the final theory that is to be presented when the study is finalized.

It also describes and introduces the theory that explains the problem that is to be addressed in the research.

Why is it Important?

The theoretical framework is made up of concepts, definitions, and references to literature that is relevant in the field, and it also includes the theory that will be used in the study. It must show an understanding of the theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic and that also include broader areas of knowledge.

It is also not usually found explicitly in books and other literature. In order to develop a good theoretical framework, you must do plenty of research, review course readings and analytic models that might be relevant.

One of the most important things about a theoretical framework is that it strengthens the research, and does so in several ways:

• A solid statement allows the reader to have a more critical view of the problem.
• It connects the researcher to the knowledge that is already available. With this, the base for the hypotheses and methodology is simplified.
• Expressing theoretical assumptions will always raise questions of why and how. It also allows the researcher to go from just observing and describing a phenomenon to generalizing about several aspects of said phenomenon.
• The theory will help the researcher to identify the boundaries of these generalizations. It will point out the specific variables which are key to influence the phenomenon and it will also expose the need to examine the behavior of those variables.

 

What’s the Structure of a Theoretical Framework?

The theoretical framework can be based or rooted in an already existing theory, but then the work is expected to test that theory and its validity.

Developing a framework from which the analysis of the research problem is derived is also a valid expectation from those evaluating or reading the study. Taking this into account, one can say that the framework can be used to answer two important questions:

• What is the research problem/question?
• Why is the proposed approach a feasible solution?

The answers to these two questions must be the result of an in-depth review of the literature used as references and possible course readings. It’s quite common for the theoretical framework to actually emerge after these steps are taken.

When developing a theory, it’s important that a framework is in place to better understand the application of it in the topic that is being studied. When writing and revising this part of a research paper, it’s a good idea to have these points as a reference:

• Describe in a clear and organized way the concepts, models, and theories that will serve as the basis for the study. This also includes referencing the key theorists in the field that have conducted other research on the problem that is being investigated.
• Position the framework in a broader context of related frameworks, models, concepts, or theories.
• It’s important that when the theory is written, it is done so in the present tense. While there might be a historical background to the theory, and that can be written in the past tense, the theoretical framework in happening now.
• Make the theoretical assumptions as explicit as possible.