The Purpose of the Theoretical Framework

Designed by Shampa Biswas, PhD Candidate, Washington State University, Pullman.

       
      The theoretical framework provides a basic design to lay out research problems, develop specific approaches, and find possible solutions within a theory or by integrating a couple of theories. This design is grounded with the fundamental constructs, subconstructs, and indicators that are interrelated with research questions or main goal or objectives. In a word, the theoretical framework for a research study should contribute a new approach to solve certain research issues.

·         The following questions will guide one to write a Theoretical Framework:

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·         Why is the research important in the specific field?

·         What are research approaches to find a possible solution?

·         What is the specific theory relevant to research context?

·         How does the theory shape the research?

·         What are the fundamental constructs, subconstructs, and indicators of the theory relevant to your research questions or research objectives?

·         Why are these theoretical concepts or constructs important in this specific line of research inquiry?

·         How do other scholars define these concepts?

·         How can you integrate these concepts and design a new framework in the specific line of inquiry?