difference between theoretical framework & literature review

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What is the Difference Between Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

The main difference between literature review and theoretical framework is their function. The literature review explores what has already been written about the topic under study in order to highlight a gap, whereas the theoretical framework is the conceptual and analytical approach the researcher is going to take to fill that gap.

Literature review and theoretical framework are two indispensable components of research . Both are equally important for the foundation of a research study.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is Literature Review       – Definition, Features 2.  What is Theoretical Framework      – Definition, Features 3.  Difference Between Literature Review and Theoretical Framework      – Comparison of Key Differences

What is a Literature Review

A literature review is a vital component of a research study. A literature review is a discussion on the already existing material in the subject area. Thus, this will require a collection of published (in print or online) work concerning the selected research area. In other words, a literature review is a review of the literature in the related subject area. A literature review makes a case for the research study. It analyzes the existing literature in order to identify and highlight a gap in the literature.

Moreover, a good literature review is a critical discussion, displaying the writer’s knowledge of relevant theories and approaches and awareness of contrasting arguments. A literature review should have the following features (Caulley, 1992)

• Compare and contrast different researchers’ views
• Identify areas in which researchers are in disagreement
• Group researchers who have similar conclusions
• Criticize the  methodology
• Highlight exemplary studies
• Highlight gaps in research
• Indicate the connection between your study and previous studies
• Indicate how your study will contribute to the literature in general
• Conclude by summarizing what the literature indicates

Furthermore, the structure of a literature review is similar to that of an article or essay . Overall, literature reviews help researchers to evaluate the existing literature, identify a gap in the research area, place their study in the existing research and identify future research.

What is a Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework is the research component that introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem under study exists. It is also the conceptual and analytical approach the researcher is going to take to fill the research gap identified by the literature review. Moreover, it is the structure that holds the structure of the research theory.

The researcher may not easily find the theoretical framework within the literature. Therefore, he or she may have to go through many research studies and course readings for theories and models relevant to the research problem under investigation. In addition, the theory must be selected based on its relevance, ease of application, and explanatory power.

Difference Between Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

A literature review is a critical evaluation of the existing published work in a selected research area, while a theoretical framework is a component in research that introduces and describes the theory behind the research problem.

Moreover, the literature review explores what has already been written about the topic under investigation in order to highlight a gap, whereas the theoretical framework is the conceptual and analytical approach the researcher is going to take to fill that gap. Therefore, a literature review is backwards-looking while theory framework is forward-looking.

In conclusion, the main difference between literature review and theoretical framework is their function. The literature review explores what has already been written about the topic under study in order to highlight a gap, whereas the theoretical framework is the conceptual and analytical approach the researcher is going to take to fill that gap.

1. Caulley, D. N. “Writing a critical review of the literature.” La Trobe University: Bundoora (1992). 2. “ Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Theoretical Framework .” Research Guide.

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The Guide to Literature Reviews

• What is a Literature Review?
• The Purpose of Literature Reviews
• Guidelines for Writing a Literature Review
• How to Organize a Literature Review?
• Software for Literature Reviews
• Using Artificial Intelligence for Literature Reviews
• How to Conduct a Literature Review?
• Common Mistakes and Pitfalls in a Literature Review
• Methods for Literature Reviews
• What is a Systematic Literature Review?
• What is a Narrative Literature Review?
• What is a Descriptive Literature Review?
• What is a Scoping Literature Review?
• What is a Realist Literature Review?
• What is a Critical Literature Review?
• Meta Analysis vs. Literature Review
• What is an Umbrella Literature Review?
• Differences Between Annotated Bibliographies and Literature Reviews
• Introduction

What is a theoretical framework?

What is the difference between a conceptual, theoretical and research framework, how does a theoretical framework relate to a literature review, how to write a theoretical framework in a literature review, how to write a theoretical framework separate from a literature review.

• How to Write a Literature Review?
• How to Structure a Literature Review?
• How to Make a Cover Page for a Literature Review?
• How to Write an Abstract for a Literature Review?
• How to Write a Literature Review Introduction?
• How to Write the Body of a Literature Review?
• How to Write a Literature Review Conclusion?
• How to Make a Literature Review Bibliography?
• How to Format a Literature Review?
• How Long Should a Literature Review Be?
• Examples of Literature Reviews
• How to Present a Literature Review?
• How to Publish a Literature Review?

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.

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.

In academic research, conceptual, theoretical, and research frameworks serve distinct but interconnected roles. Understanding these differences is crucial for structuring and presenting research effectively.

Conceptual framework

The conceptual framework is a broad outline that connects different concepts, ideas, and variables that are relevant to the research topic. It provides a visual or narrative structure that illustrates the relationships between these elements, guiding the overall direction of the study. The conceptual framework helps to clarify the research problem, objectives, and questions, and it often includes the main ideas or constructs central to the research. It also includes the concepts under study, outlining how they are expected to interact, the assumptions underlying the research, and how the concepts connect to the research question. The conceptual framework can even be developed before conducting the literature review, such that it reflects the researcher’s understanding of how different aspects of the research problem are connected.

Theoretical framework

The theoretical framework is more specific than the conceptual framework and is grounded in established theories and models within a particular field of study. It provides a lens through which the research problem is analyzed and interpreted, guiding the development of research questions and objectives. The theoretical framework draws from existing theories to provide a foundation for the research. It explains how these theories apply to the research problem and provides clear definitions of key concepts based on the chosen theories. The theoretical framework is essential for ensuring that the research is conceptually sound and aligns with established knowledge in the field.

Research framework

The research framework, often referred to as the research design or methodology, outlines the procedural aspects of the study, encompassing any conceptual or theoretical frameworks used in the research. It details the methods and techniques used for data collection and analysis, ensuring the study is systematically and rigorously conducted. The research framework includes the overall strategy and approach used to conduct the research (e.g., qualitative, quantitative , or mixed methods ). It also involves the tools and techniques used to gather data (e.g., surveys, interviews, experiments), the methods used to analyze the collected data (e.g., narrative analysis , thematic analysis ), and the process of selecting participants or samples for the study. The research framework ensures that the study is methodologically sound and provides a clear roadmap for conducting the research.

Understanding how literature reviews and theoretical frameworks complement one another is essential for crafting a coherent and persuasive research paper. In some cases, such as shorter research papers or specific types of studies, the theoretical framework is woven into the literature review to explain how the current study builds upon and contributes to existing knowledge. In other studies, the literature review comes first and sets the stage for the theoretical framework by providing a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge on the topic. This section contextualizes the current study within the broader scholarly conversation, highlights significant findings and debates, and identifies gaps or inconsistencies that justify the need for new research. The literature review establishes the study's relevance and demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the topic.

Following the literature review, the theoretical framework is introduced. This section outlines the theories and concepts that underpin the research, providing a structured lens through which the research problem is analyzed. The literature review informs the theoretical framework that helps to shape the research questions, research questions, and methodology. The theoretical framework ensures the research methods and analytical strategies are aligned with the underlying theoretical perspectives by explaining theoretical concepts. It aids the interpretation of the research findings, offering a coherent explanation within the broader theoretical context.

The literature review establishes a foundation of existing knowledge, from which the theoretical framework is derived. This sequence ensures that the chosen theories are relevant and supported by existing research. The literature review provides the necessary context for understanding the theoretical approach.

Placing the literature review before the theoretical framework affirms that the research is grounded in existing knowledge and that the theoretical approach is well-informed and contextually relevant. By carefully structuring these sections, researchers can create a coherent and persuasive narrative that effectively supports their study.

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To write a theoretical framework within a literature review, follow these steps:

Identify relevant theories : Start by identifying theories and models that are relevant to your research topic. A theoretical framework can be derived from a single theory or combine multiple theories.

Discuss theories in context : Explain how these theories relate to your research question. Discuss their origins, key concepts, and how they have been applied in previous studies.

Justify your choice : Justify why these particular theories are suitable for your study. Highlight their relevance and how they will help in understanding the research problem.

Develop research questions : Based on the chosen theories, formulate research questions your study will address.

Integrate with a literature review : Use the theoretical framework to structure your review and highlight the conceptual foundation of your study. Explain the key concepts, their interrelationships, and how they relate to your research question.

To write a literature review and theoretical framework as separate sections:

Start with the literature review : Begin by summarizing and synthesizing existing research related to your topic. Identify key studies, findings, and gaps in the literature.

Transition to the theoretical framework : Use your literature review to explain why your chosen theory or theories are well-suited to your research question. Explain how the theories and concepts you will use emerge from the literature you reviewed.

Present theories : Present the theories and models that underpin your study. Discuss their key concepts, relevance, and application to your research question.

Link to research : Link the theoretical framework to your research objectives. Show how the theories inform your research design and analysis.

Maintain coherence : Ensure that the literature review and theoretical framework are coherently integrated. Use the literature to justify your theoretical approach and guide the development of your study.

When conducting research, it is important to identify theoretical frameworks as it establishes a solid foundation for the research project. The literature review describes and critically analyzes existing scholarly articles, synthesizing current knowledge, and identifying gaps that the study aims to fill. This provides a deeper understanding of the research problem.

The theoretical framework draws from existing theories and concepts, offering a particular perspective that guides the research objectives and methods. It identifies key variables and sets critical boundary assumptions, creating a structured approach to analysis.

Combining a thorough review of related literature with a robust theoretical framework allows researchers to extend existing knowledge and gain new insights. This dual approach ensures methodological soundness and practical implications for other researchers, enhancing the relevance and impact of the study.

A well-integrated literature review and theoretical framework form the backbone of effective research. Identifying theoretical frameworks within a literature review guides research and enriches the general discussion on a particular topic.

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What is the difference between a PhD thesis literature review and theory framework?

Sep 15, 2020

If you ’ re anything like the PhD students we interact with on a day to day basis, you probably struggle to wrap your head around and write either your theory framework and lit review chapters. You may even struggle with both.

You ’ re not alone. Around 80% of the students we coach need guidance on one or both of these topics.

But don ’ t despair – there isn ’ t anything wrong with you. It ’ s particularly hard to understand how the two chapters differ from one another, principally because they share a number of similarities.

In this guide we ’ ll explain the differences between a theoretical framework and a literature review in your PhD. Elsewhere I ’ ve explained the purpose of both the lit review chapter and theory framework chapter , so I won ’ t go into too much detail here. Rather, I will focus on the things that differentiate them so you can better understand what goes where and avoid repeating yourself and putting the wrong things in the wrong places.

You ’ ll see that broadly speaking, the literature review is backward-looking and the theory framework is forward-looking. That is, the lit review looks at what ’ s already been written about your topic in order to highlight a gap that you ’ re going to fill, whereas the theoretical framework is the conceptual and analytical approach you are going to take to fill that gap.

Simple, right?

The difference between a theory framework and a lit review chapter

It’s not quite so simple. There ’ s a bit more to it than that.

Let ’ s elaborate on the forward-backward analogy a little more:

Your literature review is there to make the case for your research. It ’ s there to problematise the existing literature in order to highlight a gap in that literature that your research will then aim to fill, driven by your research questions and research aims and objectives.

In that chapter, your job is to tell the reader what ’ s wrong with the existing understanding of your topic. It may be that there are methodological flaws, or that there are gaps in our empirical understanding. Or, it may be that the particular perspective or approach taken is somehow problematic. Whatever it is, your job in the chapter is to articulate that problem, and then situate your research question as your path to fixing that problem.

I often use the analogy of a company looking to develop a new type of mobile phone. In order to be able to do so, they need to have a good understanding of how old mobile phones are made, principally to understand what problems there are with those existing designs and to see where things can be improved. Your PhD is the same. To be able to make an original contribution to knowledge to your field – that ’ s the goal of a PhD, after all – you need to know what it is that your field is discussing and, crucially, what problems there are with those discussions.

Literature review: backward-looking – what came before your research and what is wrong with it? Theory framework: forward-looking – what theoretical approach can you use to answer your research questions?

So how does that compare to the theory framework?

Well, once you ’ ve made the case for your research and situated it in response to a problem, you start to look forward and tell the reader how you will go about fixing that problem. Your theory framework (and your methods) chapters are where you do that. It ’ s your job here to explain the perspective you’ve used to gather and make sense of your data.

Literature review: backward-looking – what came before your research and what is wrong with it?

Theory framework: forward-looking – what theoretical approach can you use to answer your research questions.

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Why is this so confusing?

Part of the confusion lies in how similar the two chapters can be. For example, you will likely be discussing theory and concepts in your lit review, and you will likely be reviewing some literature in your theory framework chapter.

But it ’ s important to bear in mind the underlying purpose of each chapter. Even though you might be talking about theory in your lit review chapter, you are doing so in order to articulate the problem with that literature. And in order to develop your theory framework, it ’ s inevitable that you ’ ll have to review the literature that uses and discusses the theory and its underlying concepts.

Wrapping up

So next time you ’ re struggling to work out whether something belongs in your literature review or theory framework chapter, ask yourself a simple question: are I seeking to make the case for my research (in which case, it goes in the lit review), or is it outlining the conceptual approach I will take to answer the questions and collecting or analysing that data (in which case, it goes in the theory framework).

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.

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What is a Theoretical Framework? | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on 14 February 2020 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 10 October 2022.

A theoretical framework is a foundational review of existing theories that serves as a roadmap for developing the arguments you will use in your own work.

Theories are developed by researchers to explain phenomena, draw connections, and make predictions. In a theoretical framework, you explain the existing theories that support your research, showing that your work is grounded in established ideas.

In other words, your theoretical framework justifies and contextualises your later research, and it’s a crucial first step for your research paper , thesis, or dissertation . A well-rounded theoretical framework sets you up for success later on in your research and writing process.

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Table of contents

Why do you need a theoretical framework, how to write a theoretical framework, structuring your theoretical framework, example of a theoretical framework, frequently asked questions about theoretical frameworks.

Before you start your own research, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the theories and models that other researchers have already developed. Your theoretical framework is your opportunity to present and explain what you’ve learned, situated within your future research topic.

There’s a good chance that many different theories about your topic already exist, especially if the topic is broad. In your theoretical framework, you will evaluate, compare, and select the most relevant ones.

By “framing” your research within a clearly defined field, you make the reader aware of the assumptions that inform your approach, showing the rationale behind your choices for later sections, like methodology and discussion . This part of your dissertation lays the foundations that will support your analysis, helping you interpret your results and make broader generalisations .

• In literature , a scholar using postmodernist literary theory would analyse The Great Gatsby differently than a scholar using Marxist literary theory.
• In psychology , a behaviourist approach to depression would involve different research methods and assumptions than a psychoanalytic approach.
• In economics , wealth inequality would be explained and interpreted differently based on a classical economics approach than based on a Keynesian economics one.

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To create your own theoretical framework, you can follow these three steps:

• Identifying your key concepts
• Evaluating and explaining relevant theories
• Showing how your research fits into existing research

1. Identify your key concepts

The first step is to pick out the key terms from your problem statement and research questions . Concepts often have multiple definitions, so your theoretical framework should also clearly define what you mean by each term.

To investigate this problem, you have identified and plan to focus on the following problem statement, objective, and research questions:

Problem : Many online customers do not return to make subsequent purchases.

Objective : To increase the quantity of return customers.

Research question : How can the satisfaction of company X’s online customers be improved in order to increase the quantity of return customers?

2. Evaluate and explain relevant theories

By conducting a thorough literature review , you can determine how other researchers have defined these key concepts and drawn connections between them. As you write your theoretical framework, your aim is to compare and critically evaluate the approaches that different authors have taken.

After discussing different models and theories, you can establish the definitions that best fit your research and justify why. You can even combine theories from different fields to build your own unique framework if this better suits your topic.

Make sure to at least briefly mention each of the most important theories related to your key concepts. If there is a well-established theory that you don’t want to apply to your own research, explain why it isn’t suitable for your purposes.

3. Show how your research fits into existing research

Apart from summarising and discussing existing theories, your theoretical framework should show how your project will make use of these ideas and take them a step further.

You might aim to do one or more of the following:

• Test whether a theory holds in a specific, previously unexamined context
• Use an existing theory as a basis for interpreting your results
• Critique or challenge a theory
• Combine different theories in a new or unique way

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation. As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

There are no fixed rules for structuring your theoretical framework, but it’s best to double-check with your department or institution to make sure they don’t have any formatting guidelines. The most important thing is to create a clear, logical structure. There are a few ways to do this:

• Draw on your research questions, structuring each section around a question or key concept
• Organise by theory cluster
• Organise by date

As in all other parts of your research paper , thesis, or dissertation , make sure to properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism .

To get a sense of what this part of your thesis or dissertation might look like, take a look at our full example .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a  literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a dissertation , thesis, research paper , or proposal .

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