A study note on some terms used in dissertation projects: theories, theoretical perspective, etc. (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "In the context of doing university dissertation works (e.g. on literature review, research methodology design, etc.), I come across terms that are unclear to me. They are theories, theoretical perspectives, conceptual frameworks, theoretical frameworks, literature synthesis and contextualization. Please clarify these terms to me in the context of doing dissertation works."
The reply: "In the context of university dissertation work, especially when dealing with literature reviews, research methodology design, and overall research planning, the following terms have specific meanings and roles:
Theories
Theories are established sets of ideas or principles that explain phenomena or relationships within a field of study. They provide the foundational knowledge and assumptions that guide your research. In a dissertation, you use theories to frame your understanding of the topic and to support your analysis and interpretation of data25.
Theoretical Perspectives
Theoretical perspectives refer to the broader viewpoints or lenses through which you approach your research problem. These perspectives shape how you interpret reality (ontology), how you understand knowledge (epistemology), and how you design your research methods (methodology). A dissertation may involve multiple theoretical perspectives to address different aspects of the research questions and methods. They guide your overall approach and allow readers to follow your reasoning and replicate your study if needed2.
Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is a structured presentation of the key theories and concepts relevant to your research topic. It defines important concepts, proposes relationships between them, and discusses existing theories and models from the literature. This framework acts as a roadmap for your study, guiding your research questions, methodology, and analysis. It is usually based on your problem statement and literature review and helps you interpret, explain, and generalize your findings convincingly147.
Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework is closely related but distinct from a theoretical framework. It is a description of the specific concepts and their logical connections that underpin your study. While the theoretical framework is about existing theories, the conceptual framework maps out how you understand the variables or factors in your research and their interplay. It supports the rationale for your study design and links theory to your research questions, instrument development, and data analysis. Conceptual frameworks are often emphasized in qualitative research and appear in both the introduction and literature review sections35.
Literature Synthesis
Literature synthesis involves critically evaluating and integrating findings from multiple studies related to your research topic. It goes beyond summarizing individual sources by identifying patterns, themes, gaps, and contradictions in the existing research. This synthesis helps justify your research problem and situates your study within the broader academic conversation. It is a key part of the literature review4.
Contextualization
Contextualization means situating your research within the specific context or background that shapes the problem and its significance. This includes explaining the social, cultural, historical, or disciplinary setting of your study. Contextualization helps readers understand why your research matters and how it relates to existing knowledge and real-world conditions. It often appears in the introduction and literature review sections to frame your research questions and theoretical framework4.
Summary Table
These components collectively help you design a coherent dissertation by linking your research problem, questions, methodology, and analysis to existing knowledge and theoretical foundations1234567."
My question 2: "Could you provide some brief examples of these terms with reference to (1) business management and (2) housing studies?"
The reply: "Here are brief examples of the terms you asked about, applied to (1) business management and (2) housing studies:
1. Business Management Examples
Theory
Scientific Management Theory by Frederick Taylor explains how to improve worker productivity by optimizing tasks and workflows16.
Theoretical Perspective
The Systems Theory perspective views a business as an interconnected system of subsystems that must work together efficiently for overall success6.
Theoretical Framework
Using Porter’s Five Forces framework to analyze competitive forces in an industry and guide strategic decision-making23.
Conceptual Framework
A framework linking concepts like customer satisfaction, employee motivation, and financial performance to explain business success, often customized for a specific study.
Literature Synthesis
Reviewing and integrating findings from studies on leadership styles, organizational culture, and innovation to identify gaps and justify a new study on remote work management.
Contextualization
Situating a study on digital transformation within the context of rapid technological change, globalization, and evolving customer expectations in the tech industry3.
2. Housing Studies Examples
Theory
Functionalist and Constructionist theories explain housing as a social system fulfilling needs or as shaped by social constructions and meanings4.
Theoretical Perspective
A systemic perspective that views housing inequality as interconnected with energy poverty, mobility, and digital access5.
Theoretical Framework
A framework outlining key concepts like housing availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability to study housing inequality comprehensively5.
Conceptual Framework
The HouseInc project’s conceptual framework that integrates multiple analytical lenses to investigate housing inequality and develop inclusive housing policies5.
Literature Synthesis
Combining research on affordability, sustainability, and social vulnerability to highlight the multidimensional nature of housing inequality and identify research gaps5.
Contextualization
Explaining how housing challenges in Europe are shaped by climate change, geopolitical tensions, and social crises to frame the significance of the study5.
These examples show how these terms function in structuring and guiding research in both fields, helping to clarify concepts, frame research questions, and justify methodology."
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