Theoretical frameworks Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

What is theory?

Sibusiso Ncanywa — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:12:48 +0000

Theory is a term with different meanings – in everyday language, it means a guess or a hunch – but in research, it means a tried and tested explanation. All research has theoretical underpinnings, though in some fields the theoretical lenses being used are discussed more explicitly, whereas in others they are simply assumed.

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What is Theory? Using a Theoretical Framework

PostGrad — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 07:46:47 +0000

This short video introduces the idea that research is always underpinned by theory. Theories are tried and tested explanations for events and experiences that help us to move from the limitations of common sense to a more precise conceptualisation of the phenomenon. While the notion of ‘theory’ is often misused in everyday encounters (“Oh, that’s just a theory!”), in the university a theory is a powerful tool to assist us in coming to more sophisticated understandings of the issue we’re investigating. This video uses a simple analogy of a pair of glasses to show how theories can help us to look in ways that are more nuanced than what is offered when we look at a phenomenon through our prejudiced and limited ‘everyday eyes’.

Developed by Chrissie Boughey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Rhodes University. Thanks to Mandy Hlengwa for modelling the theoretical lenses and for assistance with the recording. Thanks to Sioux McKenna for editing the video and uploading.

Who might find this useful?

This short video is designed for postgraduate scholars but it might be of use to supervisors too, or to anyone running a workshop on the use of theory.

Explore these additional resources

Trafford,V & Leshem,S. (2008). Stepping Stones to Achieving Your Doctorate: Focusing on Your Viva from the start. Maidenhead: Open University Press
Leshem, S. & Trafford, V., 2007. Overlooking the conceptual framework. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 44(1), 93-105.

These blog posts might be of interest too:

CONCEPTS AND THEORY: CONSTRUCTING A ‘GAZE’ FOR YOUR STUDY
https://phdinahundredsteps.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/concepts-and-theory-constructing-a-gaze-for-your-study/
Choosing the right theory is like op-shopping
https://doctoralwriting.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/choosing-the-right-theory-is-like-op-shopping/
What does it mean to ‘theorise’ research?
https://doctoralwriting.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/what-does-it-mean-to-theorise-research/

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Theory and concepts in PG research

PostGrad — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:13:29 +0000

This narrated PowerPoint presentation discusses the role of theory and concepts in postgraduate research. It unpacks the meaning of the two terms, and how they are related, making the case for theory as ‘tool’ in research that needs to be firmly connected to methodology, and data analysis. The video argues that postgraduate researchers need to select and ‘build’ a theoretical or conceptual framework for their study, and draw the theory they have chosen into the analysis of their data. This will enable researchers to analyse, rather than describe their data, in relation to the theory, and in relation to the field in which their research is situated. In other words, they will be able to use their data to make meaning of the natural or social world in ways that connect their small-scale studies with deeper, more abstracted or generalised meanings. In so doing, the postgraduate research findings can make a more powerful contribution to knowledge, and the communities of practice PG students are connected to.

Developed by Sherran Clarence, Independent higher education consultant. Thanks to Meshay Moses for the narration.

Who might find this useful?

This material is primarily for postgraduate students to use to unpack and think about their own theory and concepts, and the work they want them to do (with the worksheet). However, the video and/or worksheet could be used in workshops with students run by postgraduate and/or writing support practitioners.

Explore these additional resources

Useful blogposts:

Worksheet:

This related resource unpacks the process of moving from a research problem to a suitable framework that students could build. It can be used by students on their own, or supervisors and PG support staff could use this to assist students in making clear their argument for which theory and concepts they have chosen, and why.

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