theoretical research

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Designing the Theoretical Framework

What is it.

• A foundational review of existing theories. 
• Serves as a roadmap or blueprint for developing arguments and supporting research.
• Overview of the theory that the research is based on.
• Can be made up of theories, principles, and concepts.

What does it do?

• Explains the why and how of a particular phenomenon within a particular body of literature.
• Connects the research subject with the theory.
• Specifies the study’s scope; makes it more valuable and generalizable.
• Guides further actions like framing the research questions, developing the literature review, and data collection and analyses.

What should be in it?

• Theory or theories that the researcher considers relevant for their research, principles, and concepts.

Theoretical Framework Guide

• Theoretical Framework Guide Use this guide to determine the guiding framework for your theoretical dissertation research.

Making a Theoretical Framework

How to make a theoretical framework.

• Specify research objectives.
• Note the prominent variables under the study.
• Explore and review the literature through keywords identified as prominent variables.
• Note the theories that contain these variables or the keywords.
• Review all selected theories again in the light of the study’s objectives, and the key variables identified.
• Search for alternative theoretical propositions in the literature that may challenge the ones already selected.
• Ensure that the framework aligns with the study’s objectives, problem statement, the main research question, methodology, data analysis, and the expected conclusion.
• Decide on the final framework and begin developing.

Example Framework

• Theoretical Framework Example for a Thesis or Dissertation This link offers an example theoretical framework.

Additional Framework Resources

Some additional helpful resources in constructing a theoretical framework for study:.

• https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/theoretical-framework/
• https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/theoretical-framework-example/
• https://www.projectguru.in/how-to-write-the-theoretical-framework-of-research/

Theoretical Framework Research

The term conceptual framework and theoretical framework are often and erroneously used interchangeably (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). A theoretical framework provides the theoretical assumptions for the larger context of a study, and is the foundation or ‘lens’ by which a study is developed. This framework helps to ground the research focus understudy within theoretical underpinnings and to frame the inquiry for data analysis and interpretation.  The application of theory in traditional theoretical research is to understand, explain, and predict phenomena (Swanson, 2013).

Casanave, C.P.,& Li,Y.(2015). Novices’ struggles with conceptual and theoretical framing in writing  dissertations and papers for publication. Publications,3 (2),104-119.doi:10.3390/publications3020104

Grant, C., & Osanloo, A. (2014). Understanding, Selecting, and Integrating a Theoretical Framework in Dissertation Research: Creating the Blueprint for Your “House. ” Administrative Issues Journal: Connecting Education, Practice, and Research, 4(2), 12–26

Swanson, R. (2013). Theory building in applied disciplines . San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

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Theories and Frameworks: Introduction

Theoretical & conceptual frameworks.

The terms theoretical framework and conceptual framework are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Although they are both used to understand a research problem and guide the development, collection, and analysis of research, it's important to understand the difference between the two. When working on coursework or dissertation research, make sure to clarify what is being asked and any specific course or program requirements. 

Theoretical framework 

A theoretical framework is a single formal theory. When a study is designed around a theoretical framework, the theory is the primary means in which the research problem is understood and investigated. Although theoretical frameworks tend to be used in quantitative studies, you will also see this approach in qualitative research.  

Conceptual framework

A conceptual framework includes one or more formal theories (in part or whole) as well as other concepts and empirical findings from the literature. It is used to show relationships among these ideas and how they relate to the research study. Conceptual frameworks are commonly seen in qualitative research in the social and behavioral sciences, for example, because often one theory cannot fully address the phenomena being studied.

Investigate theory

Identifying and learning about theories requires a different search strategy than other types of research. Even though the steps are different, you will still use many of the same skills and tools you’ve used for other library research.

• psychology:  human development, cognition, personality, motivation
• sociology:  social change, race, class, gender
• business:  leadership, management
• health:  patient care, well-being, environment
• course textbooks
• encyclopedias and handbooks
• credible websites

Theory in doctoral research

Identifying a theory that aligns with your dissertation or doctoral study takes time. It’s never too early to start exploratory research. The process of identifying an appropriate theory can seem daunting, so try breaking down the process into smaller steps.

• your theory courses
• completed dissertations and doctoral studies
• the scholarly literature on your topic
• Keep a list of theories and take notes on how and why they were used.
• Identify and learn more about relevant theories.
• Locate influential and seminal works  related to those theories.
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Types of Articles found in Scholarly Journals

• How to Limit to Empirical Articles
• Literature Review Articles
• Theoretical Articles
• News, Book Reviews, Opinion, Letters to the Editor, etc.
• Video: How to Read a Scholarly Article

What are Theoretical Articles

A theoretical article contains or refers to new or established abstract principles related to a specific field of knowledge. These article are peer reviewed but do not normally contain research or present experimental data.

How do I know I found a theoretical article?

Looks for terms like concepts, conceptual, framework, model, theoretical foundation, and perspectives.

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Theoretical Foundations

• First Online: 14 July 2022

Cite this chapter

• Elmar Schüll 10  

Part of the book series: Zukunft und Forschung ((ZUFORSCH))

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How we understand and explain the world largely depends on our experiences and the expectations and presuppositions that attend them. In science, this phenomenon is known as “theory-dependent observation.” Futures researchers can produce high-quality work only if they keep in mind the importance of theoretical models for science and research.

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Chalmers ( 2013 ) provides an overview of the history and development of various theories of science. Voros ( 2007 ) shows their importance for futures studies. On the uses and limitations of critical rationalism in futures research, see Schüll & Berner ( 2012 ).

Theories claim to be generalizable, i.e. to describe mechanisms and relationships that are valid regardless of the time or place. Thus, a theory’s degree of generalizability is a criterion for its quality – the more general, the better. But this does not change the fact that theories are devised by human beings, and notwithstanding claims to “timeless” validity, will sooner or later be questioned, supplemented, or revised.

“A paradigm may be viewed as a set of basic beliefs […] that deals with ultimates or first principles. It represents a worldview that defines, for its holder, the nature of the ‘world,’ the individual's place in it, and the range of possible relationships to that world and its parts. […] The beliefs are basic in the sense that they must be accepted simply on faith (however well argued); there is no way to establish their ultimate truthfulness. If they were, the philosophical debates […] would have been resolved millennia ago” (Guba and Lincoln 1994, p. 107; quoted in Voros 2007 , p. 75).

Not surprisingly, theories of science have often been hotly contested. The positivism dispute and the value judgment controversy are two prominent examples (see Adorno 1993 and Dahms 2007 ).

Chalmers, A. F. (2013). What is this thing called science? 4 th ed., Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Google Scholar  

Dahms, H. J. (2007). Positivismusstreit: Die Auseinandersetzung der Frankfurter Schule mit dem logischen Positivismus, dem amerikanischen Pragmatismus und dem kritischen Rationalismus . Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp.

Grunwald, A. (2013). Wissenschaftliche Validität als Qualitätsmerkmal der Zukunftsforschung. Zeitschrift für Zukunftsforschung , 2. http://www.zeitschrift-zukunftsforschung.de/ausgaben/jahrgang-2013/ausgabe-2/3694 . Accessed: 28 May 2021.

Honneth, A. (1994). Kampf um Anerkennung: Zur moralischen Grammatik sozialer Konflikte . Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp.

Rust, H. (2008). Zukunftsillusionen: Kritik der Trendforschung . Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

Schüll, E. & Berner, H. (2012). Zukunftsforschung, kritischer Rationalismus und das Hempel-Oppenheim-Schema. In R. Popp, Reinhold (Ed.), Zukunft und Wissenschaft: Wege und Irrwege der Zukunftsforschung . Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Voros, J. (2007). On the philosophical foundations of futures research. In P. Duin (Ed.), Knowing tomorrow? How science deals with the future , 69–90. Eburon Academic Publishers.

Further Reading

Adorno, T. W. (1976). Der Positivismusstreit in der deutschen Soziologie: Zu Werturteilsdiskussion und Positivismusstreit . Darmstadt: Luchterhand.

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About this chapter

Schüll, E. (2022). Theoretical Foundations. In: Gerhold, L., et al. Standards of Futures Research. Zukunft und Forschung. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-35806-8_9

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