Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks - Essay Example

? Literature Review Literature Review Introduction Literature review refers to the account of literature published about a topic and accredited to researchers and scholars. The literature considers critical points of the current knowledge including substantive findings and both the methodological and theoretical contributions to a certain topic. Apart from enlarging the knowledge about a certain topic, literature review is used in information seeking when one can scan through the literature to identify useful books and articles. Literature review also enables critical appraisal and the ability of applying the principles of the analysis that identifies valid and unbiased studies. An effective literature should be well organized and related to the research question. It should synthesize summary results and identify controversial areas in literature. As such, it helps in identifying problems related to the study. It observes the work done by literature and enables to identify mistakes that have already been done by a researcher, and avoid the repetition of the same. Any new research is dependent on past knowledge, and a literature review, which is organized well, helps in establishing the credibility of the research. Furthermore, literature review enhances the disclosure of the appropriate theoretical structure for the study to enhance the understanding of the study. The research question is judged by critical analysis of the literature review (Merriam, 2001). Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework is a manuscript that synthesizes the related concept and the existing theories of an empirical research in order to develop the basis for development of the theory. The theoretical framework makes distinctions between the quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative methods entail presentation of a theoretical framework in a more elaborate way that is relevant, and is specifically designed to test the theory. The qualitative study may also use the theoretical framework. Theoretical framework entails the presentation of certain theories such as self-efficacy, system theory and conceptual and empirical work. It can also be described as the scaffolding, the structure and the frame of the study. The structure is related to the disciplinary orientation of the author and the literature which is related to the investigated theory (Creswell, 2003). Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework enhances the relationship between relevant theories, which advances and systematizes knowledge on related concepts. Some concepts are extremely popular among practitioners, but the conceptual framework may be sporadic and limited. The literature review demonstrates the need for a research study, and this is articulated in the statement of the problem. It enhances the basis for critical important ideas of purpose and problem statement. Conceptual framework is applicable when searching for an emergent theory. Authors in conceptual study demonstrate the importance of the study through the definition of the main network and ideas for the relationships between them. The conceptual framework will ground the study based on the relevant knowledge of the research questions and problem statement. Whereas the theoretical framework is used in investigating theories, the conceptual frameworks encompass empirical and theoretical work, which is relevant to the purpose of the manuscript. A theory may be inappropriate in guiding the concepts of the study, and the conceptual framework entails the categorization and description of the key concepts that have relevance to the study. The incorporation of both theoretical and empirical research enhances the organization of the conceptual framework (Creswell, 2003). Evaluation of Frameworks in Quantitative and Qualitative Research The conceptual framework collects literature to develop a framework that will connect to the rest of the paper. The objective of the conceptual framework is to describe and categorize the concepts which tend to be relevant to the study, and to identify the relationship between them. In achieving the conceptual framework, qualitative researchers incorporate empirical research and relevant theories in organizing their work. This aids in identification of contradictions, qualifications, rudiments or overlapping of the study (Creswell, 2003). The theoretical framework incorporates the theories that are relevant to the study. In a qualitative study, the theoretical framework can be evaluated from the research design. The literature is reviewed, and the relationship with some theories is identified. From theoretical orientation, the relationship between the concepts can be determined. Article Critique Quantitative Study Akkus, Y., & Akdemir, N. (2012). Improving the quality of life for multiple sclerosis patients using the nurse-based home visiting model. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 26(2), 295-303. This article highlights the methods that can be used in highlighting or improving the quality of life for patients with multiple sclerosis using the nurse-based home visiting model. From the literature review, the statement of the problem has been well explained in the beginning section, and the need for the study is highlighted. The problem (multiple sclerosis) is defined, and the related effects are described. The flow is logical and comprehensive, where the authors first define what multiple sclerosis is, the symptoms of the disease, the challenges experienced by patients who are not able to access hospital services, and finally, the need for homecare services. The literature review shows how the attempts to assist people with MS are based on the training and medication from the hospital. Some studies related to this topic from researchers have been analyzed, and their importance has been quoted in the text. The results from other researchers have been used and a comparison made with the results in this paper. The effectiveness and costs of the multidisciplinary homecare with the traditional hospital care have been compared. The literature review is particularly relevant to the problem as it concludes by recommending an approach in order to enhance the quality of life of the patient. In this quantitative study, the authors started by situating appropriate literature on multiple sclerosis and ended by presenting the importance of nurses in providing homecare services to the MS patient. This is followed by the conceptual framework where the authors discuss the concepts that are situating the study. The conceptual framework portrayed in this study forms the platform through which the research is conducted. The concepts regarding symptoms and related MS problems that have been previously determined act as a basis for the quality of life (QoL) used in the study. This informs the study by acting as reference for the research results. As the research is conducted, the reader already knows what to expect. Qualitative Study Ploughman, M., Austin, M. W., Murdoch, M., Kearney, A., Godwin, M, & Stefanelli., M. (2012). The path to self-management: A qualitative study involving older people with multiple sclerosis. Physiotherapy Canada, 64(1), 6-17. This article is about a qualitative study that explores the experience of old people who are ageing with multiple sclerosis. The literature review starts to define what MS is and the effects of the disease based on the age, and the progression of severity of the symptoms as the person grows old. The problem statement has been clearly defined: the disability paradox. The objective of the study is to describe the experience of ageing while suffering from MS. The review is logical, comprehensive and relevant to the problem. The problem presented by this research, multiple sclerosis, is described logically, from the diagnosis, the people who are mostly affected; through to the conclusion that gives the recommendation for the MS patients. The reader is able to follow the presented ideas logically and comprehensively. The relevance to the problem is clearly portrayed where the author discusses the MS, related effects and solutions to the problem. This in return acts as evidence to the research purpose. The purpose of the research is to explore the experience of older people ageing with MS, and the review has comprehensively covered the problems experienced by the old people ageing with MS. This study does not include the recent research. The author specifies that up-to-date, there has been no any successful research that provides enough information on MS development and the self-management programmes. Therefore, the literature review supports the need for this study in order to avail the information that will enhance self-management for MS patients. The authors used a qualitative research study to investigate the experience of elderly people with MS. This article represents an example of literature use in presenting the problem statement followed by the theoretical framework of the study. The theoretical framework is grounded on the assertion that older people are experts in living with the disease in their day-to-day life. This research uses the theoretical framework where the authors depend on theoretical orientation in their description of the theories surrounding MS and old age. This research is based on theory, and the authors have used the theoretical background to conduct their research. For instance, theoretically, MS is said to be common among women; this has to be determined by carrying out a research. The theoretical framework acts as a basis through which this research is conducted. References Akkus, Y., & Akdemir, N. (2012). Improving the quality of life for multiple sclerosis patients using the nurse-based home visiting model. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 26(2), 295-303. Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Merriam, S. B. (2001). Qualitative research and case study applications in education (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Ploughman, M., Austin, M. W., Murdoch, M., Kearney, A., Godwin, M, & Stefanelli., M. (2012). The path to self-management: A qualitative study involving older people with multiple sclerosis. Physiotherapy Canada, 64(1), 6-17. Read More