{"id":42795,"date":"2018-03-12T13:48:53","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T20:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=42795"},"modified":"2018-03-12T13:48:53","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T20:48:53","slug":"writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-42797\" src=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg 680w, https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing-250x167.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not every thesis has a section or chapter devoted to a theoretical framework. But a lot do. (It\u2019s the Ph in PhD after all.) And these \u2018theory chapters\u2019 can be very tricky to write \u2013 and are often tricky for the examiner to read.<\/p>\n<p>Before starting to write your theory section\/chapter it can be good to think about what the examiner wants to see.<\/p>\n<p>The examiners have likely been appointed because they know, and possibly use, the same theoretical framing as you. And this means that you have to assume that they don\u2019t need a basic introduction or a run-through of every possible thing there is to say about the theory. The examiner doesn\u2019t want a general essay, the kind of here\u2019s-the-lot that you wrote for doctoral course-work (or even your masters\u2019 degree).<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of the theory section\/chapter in the doctoral thesis is to set the examiner up to make sense of what you\u2019ve done and what you claim to have \u2018found\u2019. The examiner therefore expects \u2013 and needs \u2013 to see something particular to your work. Something that isn\u2019t so general it could apply to any project anywhere, anytime. Something that is bespoke to what they are about to encounter.<\/p>\n<p>The examiner wants to know:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How you understand your chosen theory \u2013 there are usually multiple ways that theories are interpreted. Which have you opted for and why? What are the advantages of the approach you have taken?<\/li>\n<li>Why you\u2019ve chosen this approach \u2013 what is it about this particular framing that gives you a way to conceive and design your project, and\/or that gives your results real explanatory heft?<\/li>\n<li>That you know the ways in which the theory is already used in the field. Who else has used this approach in ways similar to you? What can you build on from their work? Or perhaps, how does your use of this theory differ\u00a0from the way it is usually put to work?<\/li>\n<li>How you have used the theory \u2013 how and where have you brought the theory into conversation with your research? Are some aspects of the theory more important than others to your research? Which and why?<\/li>\n<li>What are the potential down-sides to using this theory and approach \u2013 what doesn\u2019t it do? What have you done about these potential problems?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And if you have brought two or more theoretical approaches together in your research, then you need to provide the answers to these questions for them both\/all. But you also need to say why and how it is possible to use more than one approach. Does one theoretical framing fill in a gap left by the other? Are these theories (epistemologically) compatible? What tensions are there between them? Has anyone else done this? What potential issues are there that you need to draw the examiner\u2019s attention to?<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re clear on the audience and purpose for your theory chapter\/section then it\u2019s also important to consider the way you\u2019re going to write it.<\/p>\n<p>The examiner wants to know you are on top of the theory. That you know your stuff. That you have expertise. That you can speak with authority about it. So they\u00a0<em>don\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0expect to read quote after quote after quote after quote. Assume that the examiners have read the original, so what they want is something other than a cut and paste of the stuff they\u2019ve already encountered.<\/p>\n<p>The examiner wants\u00a0<em>your<\/em>\u00a0theoretical explication \u2013 your approach to the theory and how it\u2019s used \u2013 largely in your own words. Of course, the judicious juicy quote\u00a0<em>can<\/em>\u00a0be used for a few key points, those occasions where the theorist makes a point, just so. But it\u2019s best if you can explain the key points about the theory in your own way.<\/p>\n<p>And the examiner really doesn\u2019t want to see you quoting large slabs of \u201cintroductions to\u201d, that is, other people\u2019s interpretations of key ideas, unless you are actually discussing how the theory has been interpreted in the field. They want to see that you have read the texts for yourself.<\/p>\n<p>The examiner gets pretty worried if they can\u2019t see you and your research in the theoretical chapter. They want to see you summarising, evaluating, managing a discussion, stating your take on the theory, explaining your use of it. If they can\u2019t find you, then they\u2019ll approach the viva wondering whether you really do grasp the framework you claim as the basis of your work. They\u2019ll have a set of viva questions in mind to try to find this out. You don\u2019t want that!<\/p>\n<p>So in sum \u2013 \u00a0you need to have a deep and meaningful relationship with your chosen theory long before you put hand to mouse to write the relevant chapter. You need to know how to explain it. And you need to be very clear about how and why and where you\u2019ve used it.<\/p>\n<p>But there is no doubt that writing the theoretical section\/chapter will also enhance your understanding and your subsequent use of the theory throughout the rest of the thesis text.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41208\" src=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/coursework-writing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/coursework-writing.jpg 680w, https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/coursework-writing-250x167.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/> <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-42797\" src=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg 680w, https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing-250x167.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not every thesis has a section or chapter devoted to a theoretical framework. But a lot do. (It\u2019s the Ph in PhD after all.) And these \u2018theory chapters\u2019 can be very tricky to write \u2013 and are often tricky for the examiner to read. Before starting to write your theory section\/chapter it can be good [&hellip;]\n&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/\" class=\"more\">learn more&rarr;<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":42797,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[3499,185084],"coauthors":[11733],"class_list":["post-42795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-higher-education","tag-phd","tag-theory-chapters"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not every thesis has a section or chapter devoted to a theoretical framework. But a lot do. (It\u2019s the Ph in PhD after all.) And these \u2018theory chapters\u2019 can be very tricky to write \u2013 and are often tricky for the examiner to read. Before starting to write your theory section\/chapter it can be good [&hellip;]\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"680\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"454\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kevin\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kevin\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kevin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee\"},\"headline\":\"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":868,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/theroy-writing.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"PhD\",\"theory chapters\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Higher Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/\",\"name\":\"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/theroy-writing.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/theroy-writing.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/theroy-writing.jpg\",\"width\":680,\"height\":454},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/\",\"name\":\"World leading higher education information and services\",\"description\":\"Global Higher Education Jobs, University jobs, Lecturer &amp; tenure jobs.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee\",\"name\":\"Kevin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g8ba4c352a279c450aa9435d770c1ebf4\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kevin\"},\"description\":\"Kevin is founder of the world.edu project. The past 28 years have been involved in publishing to the education sector in print and the internet. Kevin has a degree in Education and has a many years experience in developing companies and projects.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/world.edu\\\/author\\\/kevin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services","og_description":"Not every thesis has a section or chapter devoted to a theoretical framework. But a lot do. (It\u2019s the Ph in PhD after all.) And these \u2018theory chapters\u2019 can be very tricky to write \u2013 and are often tricky for the examiner to read. Before starting to write your theory section\/chapter it can be good [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/","og_site_name":"World leading higher education information and services","article_published_time":"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":680,"height":454,"url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kevin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kevin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/"},"author":{"name":"Kevin","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee"},"headline":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework","datePublished":"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/"},"wordCount":868,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg","keywords":["PhD","theory chapters"],"articleSection":["Higher Education"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/","url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/","name":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework - World leading higher education information and services","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg","datePublished":"2018-03-12T20:48:53+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/theroy-writing.jpg","width":680,"height":454},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/writing-the-thesis-the-theoretical-framework\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/world.edu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Writing the thesis \u2013 the theoretical framework"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/#website","url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/","name":"World leading higher education information and services","description":"Global Higher Education Jobs, University jobs, Lecturer &amp; tenure jobs.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/world.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/42c1c1d5ff7ffbdf0bd50ed94c6ae6ee","name":"Kevin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g8ba4c352a279c450aa9435d770c1ebf4","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e8d491a5f9b9bf3db67c9e46abbba7bb06b26b458bd5025c55e0a4b9b60ea8a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kevin"},"description":"Kevin is founder of the world.edu project. The past 28 years have been involved in publishing to the education sector in print and the internet. Kevin has a degree in Education and has a many years experience in developing companies and projects.","sameAs":["https:\/\/world.edu"],"url":"https:\/\/world.edu\/author\/kevin\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42795"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=42795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}