wed 592theoretical framework

7/29/2019 WED 592Theoretical Framework

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Developing Theoretical

Frameworks

Camp, W. G. (2001). Formulating and evaluating theoretical frameworks for career and

technical education research. Journal of Vocational Education Research, 26(1), 4-25.


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What is Theory?(Creswell)

Grand theories

Major categories of phenomenacommon innatural sciences

Middle-range theories

Between working hypotheses of everyday life andgrand theories

Substantive theories Explanations in restricted settingsexpressed as

propositions or hypotheses


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What is Theory (cont.) Purpose of theories (Ary, Jacobs, & Razavieh, 1990)

Summarizes and put in order the existing knowledge in a

particular area.

Scientific theory of lift.

Clarifies and gives meaning to previously isolated

empirical findings.

Provides a provisional explanation for observed events

and relationships.

A theory of learning would explain relationships among speed

and efficiency of learning and variables such as motivation,

reward, practice, etc.


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What is Theory (cont.) Characteristics--criteria:

Should be able to propose the why concerning the phenomenaunder consideration and explaining in simplest form Principle of parsimony.

Should be consistent with observed facts and with the alreadyestablished body of knowledge.

Should provide means for its verification. Form of hypotheses stating consequences that one can expect to observe

is the theory is true.

Should stimulate new discoveries and indicate further areas in need of

investigation Education has suffered from absence of theoretical orientations.

Vast numbers of facts that have been accumulated through educationalstudeis, but without accompanying integration into theories to help explaineducational phenomena.


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What is Theory (cont.) Quantitative (Kerlinger, 1979)

a set of interrelated constructs (variables), definitions,

and propositions that present a systematic view of

phenomena by specifying relations among variables, withthe purpose of explaining natural phenomena.

Theory provides a bridge tying together independent

and dependent variables. (Creswell, 1994)

Explaining how and why one would expect the

independent variable to predict the dependent variable.


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What is Theory (cont.) Qualitative

Theory is explanation of reality

the cognitive process of discovering ormanipulating abstract categories and relationships

among those categories. (Marriam, 1998)


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Theory DefinedA Compromise A set of interrelated constructs, definitions,

and propositions that present a rational view

of phenomena by explaining or predictingrelationships among those elements. (Camp, 2001)


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Role of Theory in Research Quantitative: Theory guides research;

research leads to theory Researcher begins with a theory

Researcher posits hypotheses that should be true if theory is correct

Using the theory, the researcher identifies variables that could be used to test the

theory.

Researcher designs a study using the identified variables that controls for other

variables and that will test the theory.

Researcher collects data, analyzes it using inferential statistics, and draws conclusions

that relate the results of the study back to the underlying theory.


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Role of Theory in Research Qualitative: Theory emerges from research

Researcher finds a setting of interest and enters it to make observations (gathers data).

Initial analysis of the data leads to a series of questions that guide subsequent data.

Further analysis produces tentative categories, trends, or patterns emerging within thedata.

Further analysis reveals patterns or themes. The theme is, in effect, a substantive

theory.

Analysis of emergent themes produces an operational theory, which can then be

compared to other theories.


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What is a Theoretical Framework? Systematic ordering of ideas about the

phenomena being investigated or as a

systematic account of the relations among aset of variables. (Warmbrod, 1986)

Examination of discipline-based literature

related to topic and identifying

an overarchingtheory that explains the central hypothesis or

proposition. (Creswell, 1994)


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What is a Theoretical Framework?

Term does not appear prominently in researchmethods texts.

Theoretical perspective, theoretical frame,

conceptual framework, or theoretical/conceptualframework.

All terms allude to conceptual point of departure for thestudy.

Camps definition Set of theoretical assumptions that explain the

relationships among a set of phenomena.


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Conceptual Frameworks???

Is the implication that a Grand Theory of a middle

range theory doesnt apply?

Is the implication a lower level of sophistication thanis required for a theoretical framework?

If conceptual framework begins with supportable

premise and follows that premise through a logical

path of reported research and clear reasoning to formthe basis for the study, it is a substantive theory

(theoretical frame).


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Formulating a Theoretical Framework Many meaningful studies simply are not based on grand or middle-range

theories.

Substantive theoretical propositions based on appropriate discipline-basedand research-based literature provide adequate theoretical frameworks formost research in workforce education.

Substantive theory may well form the theoretical frameworks of much ofour research for some time to come.

But, a review of related literature does not provide an adequate theoreticalframework.

The literature must first establish at least one supportable premise, thengenerate one or more propositions that the researcher can postulate in theform of theoretical assumptions regarding the phenomena under study.

Labeling doesnt make it theoretical.


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Examples

Theoretical Framework in literature

Conceptual Framework in literature

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