Why a Theoretical Framework Is Important for Research

¶ … Theory Gap

The purpose of theory is to supply at the outset of the research a general idea or framework regarding a specific phenomenon and why or how it occurs/behaves: it is a "way of making sense" of phenomena (Kaplan, 1964). A theory is simply an attempt to explain something that is being researched: it acts as a lens through which the researcher views the study and interprets the findings; or it is similar to a camera which aims at the world and captures a reflection of light within four borders -- this is the frame. Theory does more than simply "catch" facts, however; it allows one to develop generalized statements regarding the cause and/or the effect of that which is "caught" or being studied. Thus, the purpose of theory in the PhD dissertation is to set guideposts by which the study can proceed. It is important for the dissertation because without a theory, a study can quickly become lost and unfocused, adopting various perspectives or none all at the same time. The theory provides order to the dissertation and helps to explain to the reader the approach that the research is taking in his or her study. The theory also allows other researchers to better understand how the author of the study intended to proceed: it is like a map that others can choose to follow should they like to replicate the study. Finally, the theory offers a perspective or explanation of events and findings that can be contested or challenged by another researcher with the same or different theory, depending upon its application. Theory in general is looking for the best, most accurate, most useful and most illuminative explanation of the phenomenon being examined within the research.

A theory gap in the study by Bharadwaj, El Sawy, Pavlou, and Venkatraman (2013) exists where the researchers discuss the usage of IT (Information Technology) in business strategy. The researchers assert that IT can be instrumental in transformational leadership, as leadership utilize it to streamline their businesses into a more effective environment that eliminates repetitive actions that IT could handle perfectly well, thus freeing up workers' time. The theory gap is present in that no one theory is highlighted as the starting point from which the researchers begin: thus, their approach is somewhat vague in that the reader is left to suspect that it is based on "hunch" or "instinct" when it should at least be based on a solid theory that could explain why the researchers believe IT could be valuable to transformational leadership.