{"id":3669,"date":"2025-08-05T10:56:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/?p=3669"},"modified":"2025-08-07T10:28:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:28:47","slug":"dissertation-training-series-post-5-kitchen-rules-conceptual-and-theoretical-frameworks-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-5-kitchen-rules-conceptual-and-theoretical-frameworks-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Dissertation Training Series, Post 5 &#8211; Kitchen Rules: Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Part 5 of the 10-part EDST Dissertation Training Series<\/em><br>By Ella Wright | Blog Editor, EDST | Insights from Dr. Autumn Knowlton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s the Difference Between a Conceptual and Theoretical Framework?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most common questions in dissertation writing is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cDo I need a theoretical framework, a conceptual framework, or both?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In her workshop, Dr. Autumn Knowlton explained it this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>theoretical framework<\/strong> is built from <strong>established theories<\/strong> that you are using to analyze your data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>conceptual framework<\/strong> is one that <strong>you create<\/strong>, often by combining concepts from different sources to suit your study\u2019s needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Both serve the same purpose: they offer an <strong>analytical lens<\/strong> that helps you interpret your findings and guide your research. The key is to choose one that <strong>works for your project\u2014and stick with it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose the Lens That Fits Your Data<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some researchers begin with a strong connection to an existing theory\u2014Marxism, feminism, critical race theory, or others. In that case, your theoretical framework is clear: you are <strong>applying and engaging with a specific body of thought<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other times, you may not find one theory that fits your topic or participants. You might choose <strong>three key concepts<\/strong> and bring them together into a <strong>conceptual framework<\/strong>. This is especially common in qualitative, creative, or interdisciplinary research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIf no theory fits, it\u2019s okay to build your own framework\u2014just make sure it serves a purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Avoid Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A major challenge students face is including <strong>too many theories or concepts<\/strong>, hoping to show depth or rigor. But this can overwhelm your reader and confuse your analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Knowlton put it simply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cOnly keep people in the kitchen who are doing a job.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>That means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Every theory or concept should have a <strong>clear role<\/strong> in your analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it doesn\u2019t serve a purpose, it doesn\u2019t belong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are not writing a textbook\u2014you are framing your own study.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frameworks Come Alive in Your Discussion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a framework is not just a box to check in Chapter 3. It is <strong>what you use later<\/strong> to make meaning from your data. Your framework shapes <strong>how you interpret your findings<\/strong>, <strong>how you answer your research question<\/strong>, and <strong>how you communicate your contribution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cYou pitched this framework, now use it. Don\u2019t forget about it in your discussion chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This means <strong>you own your choice<\/strong>. Apply it with confidence. It reminds me that in some way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cYou have to drink the Kool-Aid.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not literally\u2014but you need to commit to your framework and use it consistently.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Start Where You Are<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some students choose a framework early, others find it through writing and analysis. Either way, be honest about your process. If you struggled to find a theory that worked, you can reflect on that in your methodology or discussion chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key is that your framework must help you <strong>answer your research question<\/strong> and <strong>analyze your data<\/strong>\u2014not just decorate your dissertation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Theoretical frameworks<\/strong> use existing theory; <strong>conceptual frameworks<\/strong> are created by you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose a lens that <strong>serves your data and research question<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid including theories that do not <strong>do active work<\/strong> in your analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your framework belongs in your <strong>discussion chapter<\/strong>\u2014not just earlier on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commit to your framework\u2014<strong>own your choice<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Explore the Full Dissertation Training Series<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/03\/dissertation-writing-workshops-with-dr-autumn-knowlton-10-part-special-blog-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Overview Post<\/strong> \u2013 About the Workshops and Series<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-1-not-a-book-not-a-mystery-what-your-dissertation-really-is\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 1<\/strong> \u2013 Not a Book, Not a Mystery: What Your Dissertation Really Is<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-2-from-jumble-sale-to-funnel-planning-your-dissertation-for-clarity-and-flow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 2<\/strong> \u2013 From Jumble Sale to Funnel: Planning Your Dissertation for Clarity and Flow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-3-hold-the-target-not-the-dart-crafting-and-evolving-your-research-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 3<\/strong> \u2013 Hold the Target, Not the Dart: Crafting and Evolving Your Research Questions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-4-conversations-not-catalogues-writing-a-literature-review-with-purpose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 4<\/strong> \u2013 Conversations, Not Catalogues: Writing a Literature Review with Purpose<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-5-kitchen-rules-conceptual-and-theoretical-frameworks-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 5<\/strong> \u2013 Kitchen Rules: Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks Explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-6-you-are-the-method-positionality-ethics-and-making-knowledge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 6<\/strong> \u2013 You Are the Method: Positionality, Ethics, and Making Knowledge<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-7-sock-time-presenting-your-findings-with-clarity-and-confidence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 7<\/strong> \u2013 Sock Time: Presenting Your Findings with Clarity and Confidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-8-weaving-the-threads-discussion-and-meaning-making\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 8<\/strong> \u2013 Weaving the Threads: Discussion and Meaning-Making<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-9-what-i-did-why-it-matters-writing-your-scholarly-conclusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 9<\/strong> \u2013 What I Did, Why It Matters: Writing Your Scholarly Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/2025\/08\/05\/dissertation-training-series-post-10-dont-go-in-circles-writing-editing-and-staying-sane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Part 10<\/strong> \u2013 Don\u2019t Go in Circles: Writing, Editing, and Staying Sane<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dissertation Preparation and Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UBC Grad Studies \u2013 Getting Started:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\">https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Style Guides and Computer Tools:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\/style-guides-computer-tools\">https:\/\/www.grad.ubc.ca\/current-students\/dissertation-thesis-preparation\/style-guides-computer-tools<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Writing Support and Self-Guided Modules<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>EDST Thesis Writing Module:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/\">https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing a Dissertation (EDST Module):<br><a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/\">https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UBC Library Dissertation Guide:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.library.ubc.ca\/dissertation\">https:\/\/guides.library.ubc.ca\/dissertation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Free One-on-One Writing Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UBC Writing Consultations for Graduate Students (writing and referencing help):<br><a href=\"https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/\">https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Workshop Recording and Presenter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click to view Dr. Autumn Knowlton&#8217;s workshop <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/files\/2025\/08\/What-Is-Involved-in-Writing-a-Dissertation-final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">presentation slides<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dr. Autumn Knowlton \u2013 (Re)Visions Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autumnrevisions.com\/\">https:\/\/www.autumnrevisions.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Explore More<\/strong><br>UBC EDST students can access free tools and support through the <a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/\">Thesis Writing Module<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/thesismodules.edst.educ.ubc.ca\/module-library\/developing-a-dissertation\/\">Developing a Dissertation module<\/a>. For writing and referencing help, book a free <a href=\"https:\/\/writing.library.ubc.ca\/graduates\/writing-consultations\/\">graduate writing consultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conceptual and theoretical frameworks offer the lens for your analysis, but only the ideas doing real work should be in your dissertation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85465,"featured_media":3651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,139],"tags":[174,171,147,45,107,159,160,173,172,175,170,44],"class_list":["post-3669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-dissertation-support","tag-academic-analysis","tag-conceptual-framework","tag-doctoral-thesis","tag-edst","tag-educational-studies","tag-how-to-write-a-dissertation","tag-how-to-write-a-thesis","tag-research-lens","tag-theoretical-framework","tag-thesis-help","tag-thesis-resources","tag-ubc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85465"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3669"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3717,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669\/revisions\/3717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/edst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}