What is the Difference Between a Literature Review and a Theoretical Framework?

In qualitative research, theoretical frameworks are foundational elements that shape the research process. It guides data collection and analysis and complements the interpretation of research findings. These frameworks provide a lens through which the research topic is viewed and understood. This helps formulate clear and focused research questions. A theoretical framework ensures the research is coherent and systematically addresses the phenomena under investigation.

The role of theoretical frameworks in qualitative research is particularly significant in informing the research design. They influence the choice of research methods, such as interviews, observations, and case studies. Theoretical frameworks also help researchers choose data collection and analysis that are appropriate for the research questions and objectives. The framework ensures the research is methodologically sound and aligned with the study's key concepts and theoretical underpinnings. Theoretical frameworks can powerfully aid the interpretation of qualitative data. They offer a basis for understanding and making sense of the data, guiding the identification of patterns, themes, and relationships within the collected information. It provides a systematic approach to data analysis. Theoretical frameworks also connect the current study with the existing literature and research context. They help situate the study within the ongoing scholarly conversation, identifying gaps in the literature and explaining how the current research addresses them. This connection with existing knowledge enhances the study's relevance and contributes to the development of the field by building on and extending previous studies.

What is a theoretical framework?

A theoretical framework provides a conceptual explanation for the research problem or question being investigated. It serves as a foundation that guides the formulation of research questions and research objectives. It is important to note that a literature review is not a theoretical framework but the initial step to build one. While it is not always used, a theoretical framework helps qualitative researchers to analyze and interpret their findings by establishing a set of assumptions, concepts, and relationships that underpin their study. They serve multiple functions in research, including providing a pre-conceived explanation for the research problem or question being investigated. They help researchers analyze and interpret their findings by establishing a set of assumptions, concepts, and relationships that underpin their study. In qualitative research, a theoretical framework can support analytical approaches such as phenomenology, ethnography, and narrative analysis. In contrast, other qualitative methodologies that focus on inductive theory building, such as grounded theory, typically do not rely on a theoretical framework that is constructed before analyzing the data. For studies that use theoretical frameworks, they can provide a foundation for developing codes, categories, and themes during data analysis. A theoretical framework encourages reflexivity and prompts researchers to examine their thoughts and assumptions. A strong theoretical framework enhances the transferability of qualitative research findings. It helps readers understand how the findings can be applied to other contexts and settings and draw broader implications that contribute to theory and practice. This transferability is crucial for ensuring that qualitative research findings have a meaningful impact beyond the immediate study. Theoretical frameworks play an essential role in qualitative research, providing structure, guiding data collection and analysis, connecting with existing literature, and enhancing the credibility, rigour, and transferability of the study. They ensure that qualitative research is systematic, coherent, and contributes significantly to the broader field of knowledge. A comprehensive understanding of the theoretical framework underscoring a study provides valuable guidance for researchers, from the formulation of the research question to the critical evaluation of research findings and their implications in extending existing knowledge.