Week 6 - Assignment: Analyze Differences between Theory and Concept Research and Week 7 - Assignment: Choose a Research Topic

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 1/7

NCU Library / LibGuides / Library How-To Guides / Research Process / Researching Theoretical Frameworks

Research Process These pages offer an introduction to the research process

at a very general level.

Home

Finding a Research Topic

Determining Information Needs

Scholarly Research

Preparing to Search

Reading a Scientific Article

Evaluating Information

Finding Similar Resources

Resources for a Literature Review

Theoretical Frameworks

Theoretical frameworks provide a particular perspective, or lens,

through which to examine a topic. There are many different lenses,

such as psychological theories, social theories, organizational theories

and economic theories, which may be used to define concepts and

explain phenomena. Sometimes these frameworks may come from an area outside of your immediate academic discipline. Using a theoretical framework for your dissertation can help you to better

analyze past events by providing a particular set of questions to ask,

and a particular perspective to use when examining your topic.

Traditionally, Ph.D. and Applied Degree research must include relevant

theoretical framework(s) to frame, or inform, every aspect of the

dissertation. Further, Ph.D. dissertations should make an original

contribution to the field by adding support for the theory, or, conversely,

demonstrating ways in which the theory may not be as explanatory as

originally thought. You can learn more about the theoretical framework requirements in the NCU Dissertation Center.

It can be difficult to find scholarly work that takes a particular

theoretical approach because articles, books, and book chapters are

typically described according to the topics they tackle rather than the

methods they use to tackle them. Further, there is no single database

or search technique for locating theoretical information. However, the

suggestions below provide techniques for locating possible theoretical

frameworks and theorists in the Library databases. In addition to your

Search this Guide Search

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 2/7

Resources for Dissertation Research

Finding Dissertations

Researching Theoretical Frameworks

Research Methods & Design

Tests and Measurements

Organizing Research & Citations 

Scholarly Publication

Learn the Library 

Ask Us!

Additional Resources

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Theoretical

Library research, you should discuss possible theories your Dissertation Chair to ensure they align with your study. Also, keep in mind that you will probably find and discard several potential

theoretical frameworks before one is finally chosen.

The Theoretical Framework Guide from the NCU Center for Teaching and Learning

Theoretical Frameworks Entry from the The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research

Methods

Theoretical Frameworks in Qualitative Research Book effectively explains, through discussion and example, what a

theoretical framework is, how it is used in qualitative research, and

the effects it has on the research process.

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 3/7

Framework University of

Southern

California

The Research Planning Process: Theoretical Framework (video)

Theoretical Framework (video)

Understanding, selecting, and integrating a Theoretical framework in dissertation research: Creating the blueprint for your “house” Grant, C., &

Osanloo, A.

(2014).

Understanding,

Selecting, and

Integrating a

Theoretical

Framework in

Dissertation

Research:

Creating the

Blueprint for

Conceptual Frameworks

A conceptual framework provides the concept or set of related

concepts supporting the basis or foundation of a study. It creates a

conceptual model for possible strategies or courses of action identified

as important for researching a particular problem or issue. While a

conceptual framework is often referred to interchangeably with a

theoretical framework, it maintains a distinct purpose. A conceptual

framework is used to clarify concepts, organize ideas, and identify

relationships with which to frame a study. Concepts are logically

developed and organized to support an overall framework and often

exhibited graphically within dissertation research. Note that a dissertation may include both a theoretical framework and a conceptual framework.

The suggestions below provide techniques for locating possible

conceptual frameworks in the Library databases. Note when examples

may use the term "theoretical framework," you may change your

search terms to "conceptual framework." In addition to your Library research, you should discuss possible frameworks your Dissertation Chair to ensure they align with your study. Also, keep in mind that you will probably find and discard several potential

conceptual frameworks before one is finally chosen.

The Conceptual Framework Guide from the NCU Center for Teaching and Learning

Conceptual Framework Entry from the SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research,

Measurement, and Evaluation

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 4/7

Blueprint for

Your "House".

Administrative

Issues Journal:

Connecting

Education,

Practice, And

Research, 4(2),

12-26.

What is a Theoretical Framework? Merriam, S. B.,

& Tisdell, E. J.

(2015).

Qualitative

research: A

guide to design

and

implementation.

John Wiley &

Sons.

Researching Theoretical & Conceptual Frameworks Workshop

This workshop presents search techniques for researching theoretical

and conceptual frameworks both online and in the NCU Library.

Researching Theoretical & Conceptual FrameResearching Theoretical & Conceptual Frame……

Resources

Ebook Central  Search for and read full-text e-books online. Over 100,000 titles

available in psychology, business, and education. Full-text

available.

Credo Reference Provides access to a large number of encyclopedias,

dictionaries, thesauri and other reference books. Subjects

covered include art, biography, business, economics, education,

history, literature, music, psychology, religion, and science and

technology.

E-Book Databases Google

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Roadrunner Search

SAGE Research Methods Web of Knowledge

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 5/7

NCU Dissertation Center

NCU Dissertation Center Find valuable

resources and

support

materials to

help you

through your

doctoral

journey.

If you are

looking for a

document in

the

Dissertation

Center and

can't find it

please contact

your Chair or

The Center for

Teaching and

Learning at

[email protected]

Use the Library’s e-book databases to gather background information on a particular theory or theorist. Since the e-book

databases will contain fewer resources than a database containing

thousands of scholarly journal articles, it is best to keep your search

terms a little more broad.

For example, a search for education theory in the Ebook Central database results in many relevant e-books, as shown below.

Expanding the Table of Contents will provide additional details

about the e-book.

Encyclopedias and handbooks will also provide reliable background

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 6/7

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022 9:34 AM URL: https://library.ncu.edu/researchprocess  Print Page Login to LibApps Report a problem

Subjects: Arts & Humanities, Business, Computing & Information Technology, Dissertation Resources, Education, Government & Criminal Justice, Health, Medicine & Nursing, Law, Library Services, Tools & Resources, Marriage & Family

Science, Psychology & Social Work, Sociology & Diversity Studies

Tags: annotated bibliography, Boolean operators, cited, cited references, citing articles, dissertation research, field codes, Google Scholar, literature review, measurements, organizing citations, peer-reviewed journals, popular sources, primary sources, research

design, research methods, research topic, research_process, scholarly sources, searching, secondary sources, statistics, tests,

theoretical frameworks, theory

information on particular theories. For example, a search for

cognitive developmental theory in the Credo Reference database results in a number of reference entries which discuss the

history of the theory, identify relevant theorists, and cite seminal

research studies.

Was this resource helpful? Helpful  Not Helpful 

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks

6/28/22, 12:18 PM Researching Theoretical Frameworks - Research Process - LibGuides at Northcentral University

https://library.ncu.edu/friendly.php?s=researchprocess/theoreticalframeworks 7/7

N eed H

elp? C hat N

ow !

Reference

Do you need research assistance? A library staff member is online and ready to help.

This chat service is only available to users affiliated with Northcentral University. Chat Now No Thanks