Novices’ Struggles with Conceptual and Theoretical Framing in Writing Dissertations and Papers for Publication

Christine Pearson Casanave and Yongyan Li
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Christine Pearson Casanave: Graduate College of Education, Temple University, Japan Campus, Japan
Yongyan Li: Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

Publications, 2015, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: In this conceptual paper, we address the problem that novice scholars in social sciences sometimes have in constructing conceptual or theoretical frameworks for their dissertations and papers for publication. In the first part of the paper, we discuss why the topic is important in the high pressure environment that novice scholars face, in which finishing a doctoral degree and getting published can make a difference in career success or failure, and explain our understanding of theoretical/conceptual framing, including provisionally defining some key terms. We then elucidate ten problems that novice scholars have with theoretical/conceptual framing, using our own experiences as manuscript reviewers and writers as examples. The paper concludes with ways that novice scholars can address the task of framing their scholarly work conceptually and theoretically, on the understanding that the struggles continue over the lifetime of a scholarly career.

Keywords: theory; conceptual framing; theoretical framing; qualitative research; novice researchers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A2 D83 L82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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