2.1 The nature of research frameworks

The notion of a research framework is central to every

field of inquiry, but at the same time the development and

use of frameworks may be the least understood aspect of

the research process.

The online

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principles, agreements, or rules that provides the basis or

the outline for something that is more fully developed at a

later stage.” I also like to think of a framework as being

like a scaffold erected to make it possible for repairs to be

made on a building.

A scaffold encloses the building and

enables workers to reach otherwise inaccessible portions

of it. Thus, a research framework is a basic structure of

the ideas (i.e., abstractions and relationships) that serve as

the basis for a phenomenon that is to be investigated.

These abstractions and the (assumed) interrelationships

among them represent the relevant features of the

phenomenon as determined by the research perspective

that has been adopted.

The abstractions and

interrelationships are then used as the basis and

justification for all aspects of the research.

Using a framework to conceptualize and guide one’s

research has at least four important advantages.

1. A framework provides a structure for conceptualizing

and designing research studies.

framework helps determine:

• the nature of the questions asked;

• the manner in which questions are formulated;

• the way the concepts, constructs, and processes

of the research are defined; and

• the principles of discovery and justification

allowed for creating new "knowledge" about the topic

under study (this refers to acceptable research methods).

2. There is no data without a framework to make sense of

those data.

for themselves!” Dylan Wiliam and I have argued

elsewhere that actually data have nothing to say. Whether

or not a set of data can count as evidence of something is

determined by the researcher’s assumptions and beliefs as

well as the context in which it was gathered (Lester &

Wiliam, 2000). One important aspect of a researcher’s

beliefs is the framework, theory-based or otherwise, he or

she is using; this framework makes it possible to make
sense of a set of data.

3. A good framework allows us to transcend common

sense.

building is the linchpin in spurring practical progress. He

notes that you don’t need theory for many everyday

problems—purely empirical approaches often are enough.

But often things aren’t so easy. Deep understanding that

comes from concern for theory building is often essential

to deal with truly important problems. I find diSessa’s

insistence on grounding research in theory alone too

restrictive. As I discuss later in this paper, a theoretical

framework is not the only, or even the best, choice for

guiding our inquiry. However, building one’s research

program around a carefully conceptualized structure (i.e.,Andy diSessa (1991) has argued that theoryWe have all heard the claim, “The data speakframework) is essential.

4. Need for deep understanding, not just “for this”

understanding.

should have as researchers to deeply understand the

phenomena we are studying—the important, big questions

(e.g., What does it mean to understand a concept? What

is the teacher’s role in instruction?)—not simply find

solutions to immediate problems and dilemmas (i.e.,

determine “what works.”). A research framework helps

us develop deep understanding by providing a structure

for designing research studies, interpreting data resulting

from those studies, and drawing conclusions.Related to the above, is the need we



In particular, a researchEncarta World Englishdefines a framework as “a set of ideas,