Significance of literature when constructing a theory : a selective literature review : theory development (original) (raw)
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Significance of literature when constructing a theory: a selective literature review
2014
The issues around use of literature in theory construction are often a source of confusion, especially for novice researchers. The very nature of the process of theory construction remains blurred due to lack of consensus among researchers. Novice researchers are often confronted with questions of whether or not a literature review should be conducted when constructing a theory. These questions seeking to justify what a credible methodology is when constructing a theory not only challenge novice researchers but also experienced researchers. This article explores different perspectives regarding the significance of literature review in theory construction. A selective literature review was used to access and interrogate selected arguments from published peer-reviewed work. Narrative analysis was used to analyse selected text. It is concluded that literature plays a pivotal role in theory construction, whether by active review in the case of novice researchers or being sensitised by virtue of discipline interest and prolonged exposure in experienced researchers. However, it is important not to disregard the view that it is not necessary to incorporate literature review in certain specific designs due to assumed influence on the outcome of the new theory.
Developing a Theory in Academic Research: A Review of Experts’ Advice
Despite the number of developed theories, it still remains a difficult task for some established and emerging scholars in various academic fields to clearly articulate new theories from research studies. This paper reviews and collates the views of scholars on what a theory is and how a good theory can be developed. It explains the concept of a theory, and the different components that make up a theory. The paper discusses the different processes of theory development by emphasizing what theory is and what theory is not. This review found that scholars differ in their definition of a theory, which leads to using terms such as model, paradigm, framework, and theory interchangeably. It found the lack of theoretical constructs in a study to be one of the factors which explains why articles are rejected for publication. This paper may be of benefit to established researchers who may be struggling with theory development, and especially younger academics who are the future of scholarship in various academic fields, particularly in information science.
Constructing a Literature Review
With a view to examining the entire proposed structure for an empirical article, this editorial focuses on the Literature Review, also known as the Theoretical Framework. The literature review may be defined as “a documented review of published or unpublished works (articles, books, etc.) in specific fields of interest to the work of the researcher” (Ferreira, 2015: 36). It is to be found in conceptual articles such as empirical articles, whether qualitative or quantitative. It has a clear link to the article as a whole and provides support for the section on the development of the concept and the hypotheses/propositions that follow it in the structure of an empirical article.
2009
Abstract This essay starts with a discussion of the literature review, theoretical framework, and conceptual framework as components of a manuscript. This discussion includes similarities and distinctions among these components and their relation to other sections of a manuscript such as the problem statement, discussion, and implications. The essay concludes with an overview of the literature review, theoretical framework, and conceptual framework as separate types of manuscripts.
Importance of Literature Review
2020
research proposal as a problem to investigate, it usually has to be fairly narrow and focused, and because of this it can be difficult to appreciate how one's research subject is connected to other related areas. Therefore, the overall purpose of a literature review is to demonstrate this, and to help the reader to understand how your study fits into a broader context. This paper seeks to examine this topic of literature review, its significance and role in research proposal and report. It will start by explaining in detail what literature is; by citation of different scholars and its constituent components, such as the theoretical framework. Thereafter, it will look at the importance of literature review and its role in research proposals and reports. Finally, a conclusion will be written based on this topic. A Literature Review is a critical review of existing knowledge on areas such as theories, critiques, methodologies, research findings, assessment and evaluations on a particular topic. A literature review involves a critical evaluation identifying similarities and differences between existing literatures and the work being undertaken. It reviews what have already been done in the context of a topic. Therefore, on the basis of the existing knowledge, people can build up innovative idea and concept for further research purpose (Cooper, 1998). In doing empirical literature review is reading reports of other relevant studies conducted by different researchers. In doing so, a researcher gets knowledge and experiences that were established by other researchers when conducting their studies. While Conceptual framework is a set of coherent ideas or concepts organised in a manner that makes them easy to communicate to others. It represents less formal structure and used for specific concepts and propositions derived from empirical observation and intuition (ibid). According Aveyard, H. (2010) Theoretical framework is a theoretical perspective. It can be simply a theory, but can also be more general a basic approach to understanding something. Typically, a theoretical framework consists of concepts, together with their definitions, and existing framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories, and existing framework demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic of your research proposal and that will relate it to the broader fields of knowledge in the class you are taking.
Conceptualizing the Pathways of Literature Review in Research
Since research work is an adventurous expedition, one requires clear pathways, without which the researcher can be lost in the foggy way. To develop a good roadmap is, thus, a crucial task on the part of the researcher. Based on this assumption, this study aimed to conceptualize the notions, functions, and components of literature review that subsumes developing a conceptual framework, an outline of a research work. To achieve this objective, I adopted descriptive-interpretive design of research. Basing my study on theoretical and conceptual insights from different theoreticians' and researchers' works, I analyzed and interpreted the information obtained from the templates used by the previous researchers. I have inferred that literature review, which is indispensable in research process, functions like a beacon light for safe harbouring the research work. I have also inferred, like many have done, that the basic components of literature review consist of introduction, review of theoretical and empirical literature, implication of the review, and theoretical and/or conceptual framework/s. Its implication is that any research work needs to pave its pathways distinctly for its successful execution.
The General Method of Theory-Building Research in Applied Disciplines
Advances in Developing Human Resources, 2002
The problem and the solution. One of the challenges of theory-building research in applied disciplines is making the logic used to build the theory explicit and accessible to the user of the developed theory. Although different methods of theory building advocate different theory-building research processes, there is an inherently generic nature to theory building. This chapter acts as a foundation for the journal by highlighting strategies commonly used in building theory and offers a generic, five-phase method of theory-building research. I passionately believe in the need for and utility of good theory. As a result, one familiar statement that dumbfounds me is, "Well, that is all very well in theory, but it does not work like that in practice or in the real world." Statements of this nature are informed by a number of deeply held, and generally erroneous, assumptions about the nature and utility of theory. Some of these false assumptions include the following: • that theory is disconnected and removed from practice, • that the process of theory construction happens in isolation of the real world, • that those who engage in theory building or development are not the same as those who engage in practice or in the real world, and • that usefulness and application are optional outcomes of theory. What is the purpose of good theory other than to describe and explain how things actually work and, in so doing, to help us improve our actions in this world? Some will contend that theory is largely idealistic (Kaplan, 1964
The nature and purpose of a literature review
• Learning outcomes • The nature of a literature review • Identifying the main subject and themes • Reviewing previous research • Emphasizing leading research studies • Exploring trends in the literature • Summarizing key ideas in a subject area • Summary A literature review is usually regarded as being an essential part of student projects, research studies and dissertations. This chapter examines the reasons for the importance of the literature review, and the things which it tries to achieve. It also explores the main strategies which you can use to write a good literature review.
Theory Construction Principles in Applied Research: Can We Learn from (Others') Mistakes?
1983
Social science theorists such as Lewin, Campbell, and Wimsatt have established the basis for scientific community psychology and in particular mathematical psychology. Their tools of triangulation and robustness analysis have furthered the methodology by defining the logical effects of mathematical concepts in a theoretical system. Mathematical psychology can contribute to support systems work in bridging the current gap between qualitative-theoretical emphases and quantitative-methodological emphases. Theory construction in the tradition of action research is seriously lacking in the field and is important for reasons of research adequacy. Theory construction tasks are unique, given that mathematical psychology is defined by the use of sophisticated mathematical methods rather than a particular topic area. Mathematical modeling can make valuable contributions to the development of theory (discursive), can clarify and extend concepts (exp'irational), can describe data sets (representational) and formally can define concepts as related to data sets (theoretical-construct). These models can facilitate communication between applied researchers and target systems. (BL)