Eureka! When I learnt how to write a theoretical framework

Feb 6, 2019

how to structure a theoretical framework

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Have you ever had a eureka moment? A moment where something that you’ve misunderstood for ages becomes crystal clear?

I did, about half way through my PhD.

Did I come up with a ground breaking discovery that would revolutionise my field? Did I develop a new theory that would change the way we think about the world?

No.

I finally understood how to write a theoretical framework.

Sound silly? It isn’t. 

During the one-on-one PhD coaching sessions I run, the issue of how to write a theory framework comes up more frequently than any other. The theoretical framework is important, but many people find it difficult. I know I struggled with it. 

Then someone explained the theory framework to me in such a simple way. Here’s the eureka moment:
The theoretical framework is like a toolbox.

Simple, right?

Let me explain. In the literature review you highlighted the problem that needs ‘fixing’. The theoretical framework – the ’toolbox’ – details the theories, propositions, hypotheses (if you’re using them) and concepts – the ’tools’ – that you will use to address or make sense of this problem.

So, your job in a theoretical framework chapter is to discuss in detail what the tools look like, how they behave, how they have been used before, how they relate to one another, how they are relevant to your aims and objectives and what the drawbacks are from using them. The methods chapter then discusses how you will use (operationalise) those tools.

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What is a theoretical framework?

 
A simple way to understand what a theoretical framework is is to picture what your research would look like if you didn’t have one.

Imagine you are studying local government responses to climate change. The question you want to answer is ‘why do local governments differ in their responses to climate change?’ (the subject of my own doctoral research).

 

In the literature review you highlighted the problem that needs ‘fixing’. The theoretical framework – the ’toolbox’ – details the theories, propositions, hypotheses (if you’re using them) and concepts – the ’tools’ – that you will use to address or make sense of this problem.

 

The list of potential explanations for why responses differ is enormous.

You could approach this question with a focus on, say, psychology, power, gender, economics, and so on. The best we can typically hope for – and this is particularly true in much of the social sciences – is an interpretation of the truth.

So – and this is important – we use theory to focus our attention on a small sub-set of all potential explanations, on one particular viewpoint.

Now I know I’m getting into messy epistemological and ontological waters here. I am an interpretivist, so I see theory as a ‘lens’ that you apply to make sense of the world. That’s the shape of my toolbox.

But, even if you’re a positivist you still pick and choose theoretical concepts and hypotheses from a range of available options; you just use them in a different way (rather than a lens, they become testable propositions, or measurement tools).

Without a theoretical framework we are left with a potentially endless choice of potential viewpoints, which would make our data collection and analysis and our discussion hugely chaotic.

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In other words, if we don’t know how to focus our attention, how we can present a coherent explanation? 

The theoretical framework is a natural extension of the literature review. The purpose of the literature review, amongst other things, is to highlight gaps and shortcomings with the existing work in your field.

The theoretical framework details the perspective you will take to address that gap and shortcoming.

For example, in my doctoral research, my literature review focused on government responses to climate change and pointed out that there hadn’t been much discussion on local government.

The theoretical framework then made an informed decision to come at it from a particular theoretical perspective (institutional theory, if you’re interested) and then discussed what that theory looks like, highlighting the key concepts and ideas. 

In your own research you will also need to make an informed decision about the particular theory you will employ to guide you through the rest of the research.

 

The theoretical framework is a natural extension of the literature review. The purpose of the literature review, amongst other things, is to highlight gaps and shortcomings with the existing work in your field. The theoretical framework details the perspective you will take to address that gap and shortcoming.

  

So, the job of the theoretical framework isn’t to repeat the literature review. Instead, think of it as a separate, mini literature review, this time focusing on the theory you will employ. You don’t have to discuss every particular use and discussion of the theoretical position you employ. If you did, you’d quickly run out of space and time.

Remember, your examiners are likely to already be familiar with the theory, meaning that rather than discuss every possible thing that there is to discuss about it, you instead need to discuss how and why the theory has been adapted and adopted to the context of your research.

How to structure a theoretical framework


The key when writing your theory framework is to show your understanding of the broad theoretical school and to define the key concepts, both with reference to the existing literature, but also to your research questions and problem statement. 
 
There are ten things to consider and include in your theory framework section/chapter. These aren’t necessarily in order, but they are all things that you will need to think about and, if relevant, discuss.
 
  1. You need to have a solid grasp of your aims and objectives. These define the space in which your research will sit and your goals when conducting it. You will need to briefly recap these when you start writing your theoretical framework, both to remind the reader and so that you can relate your theory to these overarching aims.
  2. What theory/theories are you using? Here you need to define and explain each theory you draw upon and, in doing so, discuss the leading proponents and applications. This shows that you understand the theory you are going to adopt.
  3. You then need to spend time critically arguing why you are adopting this particular theory. There are a lot of potential theories you could use. Why this one? Importantly, you should relate your choice to the discussions in the literature review and your aims and objectives.
  4. Can the theory/theories be broken down into different schools? Which one are you siding with and why?
  5. A theory contains a number of concepts. Which will you be drawing upon? Why these ones? Have you defined them properly? The way you approach this section will be influenced by your epistemological and ontological perspective and, thus, whether you use hypotheses or not. If you are using hypotheses, you need to state them as such.
  6. How do the concepts relate to your aims and objectives?
  7. Have you clearly stated your ontological and epistemological perspective?
  8. Are you the first to use this particular theory in this particular way? What benefits or drawbacks does that bring?
  9. Can you spot any drawbacks with applying this theory? Does it fail to account for a particular dimension of a phenomenon? Is it difficult to operationalize?
  10. How are your concepts related? Are you using them as hypotheses? Or as a model to make sense of the data? Somewhere in between? Be explicit about how they are all related and what you plan on doing with them.
The goal of writing up a theoretical framework is to tell the reader why you have chosen particular theories, how they relate to the gap in the literature, and how they relate to your aims and objectives. Following these ten steps is a good way of achieving that goal. 
You are likely to be moulding and interpreting the theory to suit your purposes, which requires you to discuss your take on the theory. So, read the first hand literature; you want to get to the source of the theory and, where possible, avoid relying on other people’s literature reviews. Try not to fill your theoretical framework discussion with quotes though (the same is true of your literature review). The examiners want to see that you have understood the theory, not that you are capable of regurgitating it. 

The goal of writing up a theoretical framework is to tell the reader why you have chosen particular theories, how they relate to the gap in the literature, and how they relate to your aims and objectives.

A short (but necessary) note on ontology and epistemology 

 

 Everybody hates ontology and epistemology, but this stuff is important, so stay with me for just one minute. 
 
There will be differences in how you approach theory and how your toolbox is used. This is because of differing ontological and epistemological positions. 
 
Those from the more realist end of the spectrum (e.g. positivists) will see theory as embodying a set of testable propositions. In this tradition, concepts are seen as variables and are tested using quantitative measurement. Those from the more idealist end of the spectrum (e.g. interpretivism) will see theory as embodying a lens that can be applied to the world and used to make sense of it. Much like the lenses of a pair of glasses. In this tradition, the concepts are there to make sense of the world by focusing your attention on a particular aspect of reality. There is no hypotheses to be proved or disproved, only an interpretation. What interpretation you take depends on the tools in your toolbox. Each tool does one job. The same is true of concepts.
 
In either case, theories are meant to be tested and challenged. They are fluid and change over time in light of new evidence and new empirical application. If you are explicitly testing new or old theory, this is obvious. But even if you are using theory to interpret the world, you will still have something to say about the relevance of particular theories and concepts. Whilst it might not seem like it, this is a test of the theory and does advance our knowledge.

How do I choose theories and create my framework?


Unless you are using an inductive methodological approach (where you generate theory from the data), you will likely approach your fieldwork with a theoretical framework in mind. Which theory or theories you choose is, in part, down to your aims and objectives and whether there is a relevant theory available ‘off-the-shelf’ that is appropriate for your needs.

There are generally three strategies that researchers use to develop their theoretical frameworks: 

  1. There may be theories in your field that have arisen on the basis of repeated observation and testing and which are widely accepted.
  2. Or, you might find that you need to select concepts from multiple theories and create a novel framework that is unique to your particular context.
  3. A growing and important trend in social research is to adopt an interdisciplinary perspective when trying to understand the social world. This can be achieved by looking beyond the dominant, well-established theories and thinking about how other theories, particularly those from other disciplines or sub-disciplines, can be used.

In any case, you must consider the following when selecting a theory: 

  1. Identify your ontological and epistemological beliefs.
  2. List several theories that align with your epistemological position and which can aid your understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.
  3. Engage in literature review around those theories, both to familiarise yourself with them but also to understand their relevance to your study.
  4. Ask yourself how each theory connects to your problem, aims & objectives.
  5. Select the theory or theories that provide more relevant tools for your thesis. 

I have more than one theory. What do I do?

 Often, you need to combine concepts, hypotheses or ideas from more than one theoretical school. Employing more than one theory is entirely legitimate. I did so in my PhD. 

 However, you need to consider a few key questions: 

  • Are the theories you are bringing together epistemologically compatible? 

  • Have you discussed each theory in the same level of detail to adequately explain the theory, your justification for its inclusion, its relation to the literature and its potential drawbacks? 

  • What benefits does focusing on more than one theory bring? Perhaps one theory has shortcomings that the other addresses? 

  • What downsides are there to employing more than one theory? 

  • Has anyone else used this combination of theories before you? 

Conclusion

The theoretical framework is a tricky section to write, largely because the choice available to you is huge.

But keep that toolbox metaphor in mind. 

 Each theory contains a number of tools. Your job in the theory framework is to take the tools you need for your project from the most relevant theory/theories and package them up into your own toolbox.

When you’re done, you should see that the theory framework offers:

  1. Structure, by detailing the key concepts, tools and, where relevant, hypotheses
  2. A way to connect to other research
  3. A coherent, joined up set of ideas that structure the writing and help to create an argumentative streak that can run throughout your thesis
  4. An approach that can be reused in additional contexts once you’re done

Along the way, you need to convince the reader that you’ve picked and applied the most appropriate tools possible, given your aims and objectives.

The theoretical framework frames the research. If you build that frame right, your research will shine. If you don’t then you’ll struggle.

If you need expert guidance to structure, plan or write your theory framework you can get in touch for a one-on-one coaching session. It’s like having a personal trainer, but for your PhD. 

 

PhD Literature Review & Theory Framework Survival Pack

Master your lit review & theory framework.

Learn what goes where (and why), and how it all fit together with this free, interactive guide to the PhD literature review and theory framework.

FREE DOWNLOAD

65 Comments

  1. Kamara
    Kamara on May 12, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    A great read. Quite some insight into my Phd journey. The conceptual framework?

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 13, 2019 at 9:30 am

      Glad you found it useful. You having trouble with your conceptual framework?

      Reply
      • SHAMIN ALLY
        SHAMIN ALLY on March 6, 2020 at 12:40 pm

        This is enlightening. I was struggling with my Theoretical framework. I will apply the guidelines here and await feedback from my supervisor. Thanks

        Reply
        • Dr. Max Lempriere
          Dr. Max Lempriere on March 6, 2020 at 3:53 pm

          I’m glad you found the post useful. Thanks for your kind words.

          Reply
  2. Al
    Al on May 17, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    I came across your posts while helping my wife with her work (I finished my PhD two years ago), and I keep thinking…hmmm the pain I went through to learn this… thank you for making it so easy for others…

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 20, 2019 at 8:44 am

      Thanks for the kind words. I remember how difficult I found my own PhD, so my motivation is to make life easier for as many other PhD students as possible.

      Reply
  3. umair rahmat
    umair rahmat on May 29, 2019 at 2:30 am

    i need some more clear version to develop a theoretical framework. kindly contact me through email. thank you

    Reply
    • Yvonne
      Yvonne on June 24, 2020 at 7:53 am

      Great insights. I have read through your thesis. You did a lot of quality work. I see the EM, Environmental Policy Capacity and the institutions theory all discussed. Really detailed and linked. Let me see how mine goes

      Reply
  4. Dr. Max Lempriere
    Dr. Max Lempriere on May 29, 2019 at 2:23 pm

    I’ve sent you an email. I’d be glad to help.

    Reply
  5. Carolyne
    Carolyne on July 21, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    This is very helpful because am really struggling to write my theoretical section. I have a question, I selected a framework but realised it has shortcomings, so I decided to include a model, but also I have another theory. All the three are confusing me how to structure them please I need your help. Thanks

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on July 22, 2019 at 9:53 am

      Hi Carolyne,

      Thanks for your email. Do you want to have a one-on-one coaching session with me? We’ll be able to get to the bottom of your confusion and clear up your theory problems once and for all. Click here for more details and to book yourself in.

      Reply
  6. Walter
    Walter on September 15, 2019 at 12:25 am

    Do you have a structured outline, similar to the overall diss outline, for the theoretical framework?

    Reply
  7. Lindiwe Mpindiwa
    Lindiwe Mpindiwa on February 10, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    What are the advantages of having a chapter on theoretical framework independent of the Literature Review chapter. Please assist.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on February 11, 2020 at 9:28 am

      Thanks for your comment. Whether or not you need a separate literature review and theory framework chapter depends on how distinct they are from one another and on how complex each chapter is. It may be the case that you need two chapters because to discuss both in one would make the chapter very large, complex and hard to follow. Also, it is often the case that the theory framework builds on and addresses gaps you’ve highlighted in your literature review, so for that reason it makes sense to keep them as two separate chapters.

      Reply
      • Yvonne
        Yvonne on June 24, 2020 at 7:56 am

        But which one comes first? I thought theoretical framework comes earlier than literature review or is it in a proposal where it is structured that way?

        Reply
        • Dr. Max Lempriere
          Dr. Max Lempriere on June 24, 2020 at 9:03 am

          Typically the lit review comes first, then the theory. The lit review makes the case for the research and the theory framework shows the approach you will take to conduct the research.

          Reply
          • Dr. Max Lempriere
            Dr. Max Lempriere on June 24, 2020 at 9:04 am

            Thanks for the kind words 🙂

  8. chidi
    chidi on February 13, 2020 at 12:21 am

    Dear Max,
    I am using multiple related concepts to frame my research.
    I am confused whether to dedicate a complete chapter to explain only these five concepts, or just operationalise them in one of the chapters.
    Again, is introducing these concepts early in my introductory chapter a good idea as it forms one of my research questions. This means I have answered the question in the introductory chapter

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on February 13, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Thanks for your comment. Whether or not such concepts end up in your introduction/context discussion will depend in part on whether they are framing your research (as in, providing the background or context) or whether you’re using them to answer your research questions (in which case they’ll form part of your theory framework and will therefore come at a later stage).

      Reply
  9. sevda
    sevda on March 2, 2020 at 11:21 pm

    Dear Max,
    I was searching how to structure Theoretical framework and came across your writing. Thank you for this, it is really helpful. I’m one of those phd students who struggles with Theoretical framework :/ I would appreciate your help if possible. Could you please outline, how can I reach you?

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 3, 2020 at 10:22 am

      Hi Sevda,

      Thanks for your kind words. I’m glad you’re finding the phD Knowledge Base useful. You can reach me at max[at]thephdproofreaders.com

      Speaks soon!

      Reply
  10. Naheed Akhtar
    Naheed Akhtar on March 16, 2020 at 1:24 pm

    Dear Max,

    I’m so confused about my theoretical framework. Could you possibly help please?

    Thank you,

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 18, 2020 at 8:20 am

      Sure. Have you checked out the one-on-one PhD coaching service we offer? It sounds just that’s just what you need.

      Reply
  11. huei
    huei on March 17, 2020 at 8:26 am

    I couldn’t express how grateful I am. MAY YOU BE SHOWERED WITH BLESSINGS

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 18, 2020 at 8:20 am

      Thanks! I’m glad you found the advice useful.

      Reply
  12. Esther
    Esther on March 26, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    wow!!! thank you very much , I have been struggling to write my theoretical framework . thank you.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 31, 2020 at 9:25 am

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  13. Esther
    Esther on March 26, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    Dr. Max
    I am expecting to learn more on how to pick the right literatures, related to my theme. all of them seem very nice and informative. I am having hard time to select them. and also I have difficulties in starting the sentence of my Introduction. I am researching on “the impact of Prosperity gospel in Tanzanian mainline churches”. my topic is very popular and many has been said … I feel like I am saying what has been said .

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 31, 2020 at 9:25 am

      Thanks for your comment. I wish you the best of luck.

      Reply
  14. Kourteney
    Kourteney on April 1, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    Hi Max, Great read. Doing my MA Thesis after years away from academia has been a challenge to say the least. Your article provided clarity that I have been asking for/seeking elsewhere (supervision/consultant) for months. Wish I had of found it earlier but glad I came across it.

    Thank you and all the best in these uncertain times.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on April 2, 2020 at 9:21 am

      Great! Glad you’re finding the resources useful. Good luck with the rest of the thesis.

      Reply
  15. Seva
    Seva on April 9, 2020 at 1:48 am

    Dear Max, thank you very much, many things got clear after reading this. I have a question, I am using political capability approach as my theoretical foundation which is part of RBW theory. So technically it is not a theory but just an approach, so does this indirectly mean that I am USING RBW Theory? Many Thanks

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on April 9, 2020 at 9:14 am

      Hi – glad you found it useful. Without knowing more about your project I’m afraid I can’t advise about your choice of theory framework. Have you approached your supervisor with this question?

      Reply
  16. Macdonald Muyabalo
    Macdonald Muyabalo on May 13, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    This is a very helpful article.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 14, 2020 at 8:33 am

      Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  17. Grace Magama
    Grace Magama on May 13, 2020 at 10:52 pm

    This has been one of the best articles that has clearly outlined the Theoretical framework. Kindly do a Youtibe video for auditory learners with real examples. It will greatly assist me especiall. I am glad I found this article.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 14, 2020 at 8:33 am

      Thanks for the kind words and for your feedback. I’ll take it on board for future guides.

      Reply
  18. Pauline McGonagle
    Pauline McGonagle on May 18, 2020 at 11:31 am

    Thanks so much for this which has helped me with a sticky bit as I move forward to discover new theoretical concepts from slightly outside my field that fit better than those I started out with. A part-time PhD has such a long life that it leaves too much room for changes and adaptations! A big thank you to Rebecca Baker on a Shut Up and Write Session who referred me to this!

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 19, 2020 at 11:43 am

      I’m glad you found the guide useful. Thanks to you and to Rebecca Baker!

      Reply
  19. Jackson Isiko
    Jackson Isiko on July 1, 2020 at 5:01 am

    I found this post very helpful, thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on July 13, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  20. Roshni Louis Alphanso
    Roshni Louis Alphanso on November 7, 2020 at 5:05 am

    Thank you for this crisp advice on Theoretical framework. personally i have been experiencing difficulties selecting appropriate theory related to the study. However your advice was really beneficial. God bless you for your kindness towards us researchers.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on November 12, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      Thanks for the kind words Roshni.

      Reply
      • Ntele
        Ntele on March 17, 2021 at 4:26 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing this information regarding the theoretical framework. I revisited my chapter and strengthened it based on the pointers you outlined here. This is a must read before drafting the chapter. Very helpful ?

        Reply
        • Dr. Max Lempriere
          Dr. Max Lempriere on March 18, 2021 at 9:34 am

          Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you found it useful.

          Reply
  21. Kam
    Kam on February 27, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    This came just in time! I’m taking a research philosophy course and this week’s discussion is “Theory and Theoretical Frameworks”. I found this very helpful.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on March 18, 2021 at 9:35 am

      Great. I hope it helped deepen your understanding.

      Reply
  22. Channel Zhou
    Channel Zhou on March 27, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    Thank you Dr Lempriere for this insightful article. I have just started my PhD journey and I found this article to be very useful and eye-opening.

    Reply
  23. Ehikioya Hilary Osolase
    Ehikioya Hilary Osolase on May 4, 2021 at 1:39 am

    Interesting and excellent read.

    Thank you so very much for sharing your intellectual insights on this.

    Reply
  24. PhD finisher
    PhD finisher on May 25, 2021 at 4:30 pm

    Hi this is really useful thank you. I have a question regarding one of my tools. I realise (quite late) that I am using one tool in a *generalised* way. I could put this another way – the context in which I found this tool constituted a more particular use of this more general tool, and I am seeking to retrieve it for a more general use. This opens the question – on what grounds am I employing a generalised form of this tool? What constraints govern this process of generalisation? Etc. I wish I’d dealt with this earlier… Do you have any thoughts on how I navigate this?

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on June 1, 2021 at 3:25 pm

      Hi – I’d love to give you advice, but without knowing more about your research and thesis any advice I would give wouldn’t be qualified. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

      Reply
  25. Doug
    Doug on June 16, 2021 at 9:43 pm

    Hi Max,

    I loved your explanation, but what if you ARE doing an inductive project?

    Thanks

    Reply
  26. Ellana Delfino-Rice
    Ellana Delfino-Rice on August 23, 2021 at 6:55 pm

    Hi Dr,

    I found your article very useful, thank you! I am currently building a Foucauldian theoretical framework through which to discuss a phenomena (“Karens”).

    Do you any academic articles which I can use to justify using the interpretavist approach (using theory as a lens)? I cant find anything through my searches.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on September 10, 2021 at 11:18 am

      Hi – sorry, we don’t I’m afraid.

      Reply
  27. Roland
    Roland on October 9, 2021 at 7:09 pm

    Surely, this is a great lesson offered. How I pray I had your email, I would love to learn more from you. Thank you

    Reply
  28. olivia komukama
    olivia komukama on November 4, 2021 at 8:21 am

    Been struggling with my Phd and literature review . This has been very helpful.
    Is it possible for you to share your email so i can engage more with you and get some insights and help

    Reply
  29. Stephanie Green
    Stephanie Green on November 16, 2021 at 3:38 pm

    Really really helpful guide, I am so grateful to you for providing this! It is helping me immensely in developing my own framework, a task which previously seemed scary, confusing and impossible!

    Reply
  30. Carmen van der Merwe
    Carmen van der Merwe on March 16, 2022 at 11:18 am

    Good day

    Thanks for this. It is very useful.
    So should I first write my Lit review and then only the theoretical framework?
    TIA

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 31, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks! It’s hard to say without knowing more about your project, I’m afraid!

      Reply
  31. Alhassan Mutawakilu
    Alhassan Mutawakilu on April 8, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful work.
    I want to know if theoretical frame work can presented in a diagram form

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on May 31, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      You’re welcome! Yes, your theory framework can be presented visually. It’s a great way of showing the framework in a clean, simplified way. It also serves as a useful reference guide for people to easily refer back to if they want to remind themselves of what your theory framework looks like.

      Reply
  32. ROBERT
    ROBERT on May 15, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    Hie Max

    I found your article highly informative. I recently enrolled for my PhD and my supervisor asked me to submit my Research outline. Does the outline have to have that detailed Theoretical framework. Again how best can I choose the theoretical framework suitable for my topic. If I may have a list of Theoretical frameworks I will be happy. I will also be grateful to have a direct contact with you.

    Reply
  33. Sethu
    Sethu on April 23, 2023 at 1:06 pm

    A great insight into how to write a theoretical framework, simple and jargon free, the article makes the purpose and the method of writing the chapter explicit. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Dr. Max Lempriere
      Dr. Max Lempriere on July 29, 2023 at 8:59 am

      That’s so kind of you Sethu. I’m glad you found it useful.

      Reply

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