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Assoc. Prof. Rachel E. Khan

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What is Theory ?

• A theory is an organized body of concepts and

principles intended to explain a particular

phenomenon”. (Leedy and Ormrod 2005: 4)

• Theories explain how and why something

functions the way it does (Johnson & Christensen,

2007: 7).

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•Theorizing is the

process of

systematically

formulating and

organizing ideas to

understand a particular

phenomenon.

Thus, a theory is the

set of interconnected

ideas that emerge from

this process

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Ultimately,

THEORY is a tool

by which you will

construct or

assemble your

research

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1. Theories provide predictions and explanations to

your research problem

2. Theories might provide a structured set of lenses

through which aspects or parts of the world can be

observed, studied or analysed.

- simplifies a complex idea

- helps you read the empirical data

- theories frame your conclusions

Role of Theory

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3. Theories provide a safeguard against unscientific

approaches to a problem, an issue or a theme.

- by articulating underlying assumptions and choices

and by making them explicit and subject to

discussion and by situating one’s research within

some theoretical framework one might be protected

towards criticism.

- why this theory and not that other one?

- what variables does it account for?

- how does your theory respond to causality?

Role of Theory

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Formulating the Theoretical

Framework

The theoretical framework of the study is a structure that

can hold or support a theory of a research work. It

presents the theory which explains why the problem

under study exists.

Thus, the theoretical framework is but a theory that

serves as a basis for conducting research.

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(Smyth, 2002)

Frame research problem/s and objectives

Contextualize or re-contextualize the study

Complement the research design

Organize Analysis & Presentation of Findings

Contribute to the trustworthiness of the study

Formulating the Theoretical

Framework

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Formulating the Theoretical Framework

Purpose:

• It helps the researcher see clearly the variables of the

study;

• It can provide him with a general framework for data

analysis;

• It is essential in preparing a research proposal using

descriptive and experimental methods.

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Steps in Constructing Framework After the formulation of research problems and

objectives, decide on the framework to use.

Decide on the research design (including methods, instruments, data analysis)

Problem/Objectives

Study Framework Study Design

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Major Questions

1. Will one theory be able to explain or shape the

research problems and objectives?

2. If not, how do you merge theories?

3. How do you present the narrative and

diagram/figure of the theory?

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For example:

Media Organization, Selection, and Production. McQuail’s

theory on media as an institution takes into account all forces

that affect media’s performance. (After: Littlejohn, 1992)

Basic theory 1

Thesis examines the gatekeeping, news selection and

reportage of world news in leading Philippine dailies

and primetime newscasts.

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For example:

Basic theory 2

Selective Gatekeeping. Galtung and Ruge

selective gatekeeping theory suggests that news

from around the world are evaluated using news

values to determine their newsworthiness. (After Mc

Quail and Windahl 1993, p. 166)

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For example:

Basic theory 3

Model of the Agenda Setting Theory. Malcolm

McCombs and Donald Shaw’s theory simply states

that the issues given most attention by the media will

be perceived as the most important. (Before:

McQuail and Windahl 1993)

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For example:

Combined theory

Integrated Theoretical Framework. The integrated

theoretical framework shows how media content is

shaped by pressures to the media organization,

selective gatekeeping and agenda setting.

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Based on the foregoing example, how should the theoretical framework

formulated?

1. specifies the theory used as basis for the study

2. mentions the proponents of the theory

3. cites the main points emphasized in the theory

4. Supports his exposition of the theory by ideas from other experts;

5. illustrates his theoretical framework by means of a diagram; and,

6. reiterates his theoretical proposition in the study.

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Concept

After formulating the theoretical framework, the researcher has to develop

the conceptual framework of the study.

A concept is an image or symbolic representation of an abstract idea. Chinn

and Kramer (1999) define a concept as a “complex mental formulation of

experience”.

While the theoretical framework is the theory on which the study is based,

the conceptual framework is the operationalization of the theory.

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Conceptual framework

It is the researcher’s own position on the problem and gives direction to the

study.

It may be an adaptation of a model used in a previous study, with

modifications to suit the inquiry.

Aside from showing the direction of the study, through the conceptual

framework, the researcher can be able to show the relationships of the

different constructs that he wants to investigate.

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Conceptual Framework. News values, and the pressures and

constraints shape the newspapers and television newscasts. The

result of this relationship is selective reporting of events.

Conceptual Framework

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Operational Framework. Foreign news sections of Philippine

newspapers and foreign news segments of television newscasts

are shaped by the interests of owners, editorial policies, audience

and advertisements. The criteria for selection of foreign news, the

news values, also affect the foreign news coverage. These factors

result in unequal treatment of stories and paved way for the

dominance of some topics and of some regions in foreign news

coverage of media. REKHAN 2015

Based on the foregoing example, how should the conceptual framework

formulated?

1. cite your conceptual framework or paradigm;

2. Identify your variables;

3. Point out the dependent and intervening variables;

4. Show the direction of the study.

Once the conceptual framework has been determined, the next for the

researcher is to determine what research methods to employ to best

answer the research problem through the proposed framework.

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Research design depends on the nature of the data to analyzed.

Quantitative data – when your thesis problem requires numerical

measurements of traits, trends, characteristics or attributes of the

subject matter;

Analysis leads researcher to:

• depict what is typical and atypical among the data;

• show the degree of difference or relationship between two or more

variables;

• determine the likelihood that the findings are real for the population as

opposed to having occurred only by chance in the sample.

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Qualitative data – when your thesis problem focuses on the meanings,

perceptions, symbols or description of the subject matter.

Analysis leads researcher to:

• observe behaviors, situations, interactions and environments;

• scrutinize these observations for patterns and categories;

• answer research questions based on what can be deduced from the

findings.

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References

• Boss, P. G., Doherty, W. J., LaRossa, R, Schumm, W. R. and

Steinmetz, S. K., (Eds.) (1993). Sourcebook of Family Theories

and Methods: A Contextual Approach.

• Johnson R. B, & Christensen L.B (2007). Educational Research:

Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Approaches. NY: Sage Publications.

• Leedy, P. D. & Ormrod, J. E. (2005). Practical Research: Planning and

Design (8th ed,). Pearson Educational International and Prentice Hall:

New Jersey.

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