What Is A Theoretical Framework? A Practical Answer

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EDITORIALWhat Is A Theoretical framework ? A Practical AnswerNorman G. Lederman1 Judith S. Lederman1Published online: 30 November 2015 The Association for Science Teacher Education, USA 2015Other than the poor or non-existent validity and/or reliability of data collectionmeasures, the lack of a Theoretical framework is the most frequently cited reason forour editorial decision not to publish a manuscript in theJournal of Science TeacherEducation. A poor or missing Theoretical framework is similarly a critical problemfor manuscripts submitted to other journals for which Norman or Judith have eitherserved as Editor or been on the Editorial Board. Often the problem is that an authorfails to justify his/her research effort with a Theoretical framework . However, thereis another level to the problem.

fails to justify his/her research effort with a theoretical framework. However, there is another level to the problem. Many individuals have a rather narrow conception of what constitutes a theoretical framework or that it is somehow distinct from a conceptual framework. The distinction on lack thereof is a story for another day.

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