Application: Theoretical Frameworks and Research Designs

As you engage in theory, what you’re engaging in is a system for explaining how the world is the way it is.
—Dr. Michael Quinn Patton, from the course media segment, “Theory”

Theory is a natural extension of the philosophy of science. Theory provides the lens, or perspective, out of which research is conducted, analyzed, and interpreted. It is through theory that research problems can be formulated, hypotheses put forward, phenomena categorized, and conclusions drawn. The theoretical framework of a study is, therefore, intended to hold all of the research components in a coherent structure. As such, every research design and study should have an underlying theoretical framework.

For this Assignment, you will analyze various theoretical foundations and research designs.

To prepare for this Assignment: Use the SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods website to search for and learn about various theories and research approaches identified in the Creswell text.

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Choose one of the following assignments and write a 3- to 4-page paper:

• Using the script for a quantitative theory presented under the section “Writing a Quantitative Theoretical Perspective” (pages 60–63) in Chapter 3 of the Creswell text, write a theoretical perspective section for a potential quantitative research plan. The theoretical perspective section should be based on one of your potential areas of research that you identified in this week’s Discussion 2. To help inform your writing of the theoretical perspective section, locate two quantitativejournal articles in the Walden Library. These articles should preferably use the theory that you are considering using in your doctoral research.