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The theoretical lens is the researcher’s way he or she perceives the world.  The researchers view is derived through personal experiences, professional experiences, educational experiences and other situations that have shaped the ideologies of the researcher (Grant & Osanloo, 2014).   Grant and Osanlooinformed the theoretical lens informs the selection of the theoretical framework.  This framework is the formal theory (established theory) that the researcher seeks to shape the focus of inquiry, the setting, and context which shapes the studies exploration (Ravitch & Carl, 2016).  Grant and Osanlooprovided an example of the alignment that should exist between the theoretical lens and theoretical framework.  They noted that a researcher that observes the world through a lens that sees humans as being interconnected then social network theory is a likely candidate for choosing as the theoretical framework. 

Another example of the theoretical lens is that it is not limited to one’s own perceptions.  Conroy (2013) noted that the theoretical lens is also the adaptation of a different perspective to enrich the understanding of a phenomenon.  For example, she mentioned that the feminist theoretical lens was a useful approach to study sexual harassment (SH) in adolescents because most studies on SH were atheoretical or from the development perspective.  She affirmed that the feminist theoretical lens will allow researchers to impede the homogeny of SH by hegemonic masculinity and femininity.

Conroy, N. E. (2013). Rethinking adolescent peer sexual harassment: Contributions of feminist theory. Journal of School Violence, 12(4), 340–356.  doi:10.1080/15388220.2013.813391

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. doi:10.5929/2014.4.2.9

Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.