Teoriakehykseen

Teoriakehykseen is a Finnish term used in scholarly writing to refer to the theoretical framework that underpins a research study. It comprises the theories, models, and constructs that researchers draw on to interpret phenomena, justify the research questions, and frame the analysis and interpretation of findings. The framework provides a lens through which data are understood and situated within existing knowledge.

Development of a teoreettinen kehys typically begins with a literature review to identify relevant theories and concepts. Researchers select core theories, define key constructs, and articulate the expected relationships or propositions among them. The framework also defines the study’s scope, boundaries, and assumptions, helping to delimit what will be examined and how findings will be interpreted.

In practice, the teoreettinen kehys guides several study elements: the formulation of research questions or hypotheses, the choice of variables or constructs to measure, the design of data collection and analysis methods, and the interpretation of results in relation to established theory. It is closely connected to, yet distinct from, conceptual frameworks in some disciplines; the theoretical framework emphasizes theory-based lenses, while a conceptual framework may foreground specific concepts and their interconnections. The framework is often iterative, refined as new insights emerge from the research process.