Grant and Osanloo (2014) provides a checklist to help researchers identify the appropriate theoretical framework for  research. They briefly put them in the questions that researchers must answer in order to convince them that the theory choices are appropriate for a particular study. These questions are:

1. What discipline will the theory be applied to?

2. Does the theory agree with the methodology plan for the study?

3. Is the theory to be selected well developed with many theoretical constructs?

4. Have specific concepts or theoretical principles been selected to meet the objectives of the study?

5. Does the problem of the study, the purpose and importance of the study correlate with the theoretical framework?

6. Can the theory be used hand in hand with the research questions for the study?

7. Does the theoretical framework inform the literature review?

8. Does the data analysis plan agree with the selected theoretical framework?

9. Does the theoretical framework undergird the conclusions and recommendations based on the data analysis?

Can you please explain these questions?

 

•  A1. What discipline will the theory be applied to? According to Grant and Osanloo (2014), multiple theories provide varied explanations or perspectives on the same issue. A researcher, therefore, can outline the specific disciplines that the theory will be applied to. 
• A2. The theory selected for use should agree with the methodology plan for the study. When both agree, it will be easier for the researcher to build a strong argument, establish the problem's context, and explain the research findings.

Step-by-step explanation

• A3. A researcher should select a well-developed theory with many theoretical constructs for accurate findings on the specific phenomenon under study or investigation. A theory with many theoretical constructs has varied explanatory concepts that can be used to explain and answer various research questions. 
• A4. Specific concepts or theoretical principles should be selected to meet the objectives of the study. The concepts or theoretical principles enable the researcher to justify the research questions, the problem, the study's significance, and more. 
• A5. Yes, the study's problem, the purpose, and the importance of the study correlate with the theoretical framework. A theoretical framework serves as a guide in research and determines things to measure and examine. Therefore, it relates to the problem, purpose, and importance of the study. 
• A6. Yes, a theory is used hand in hand with research questions. The theory provides a clear explanation of the research findings based on the research questions. 
• A7. Yes, a theoretical framework is developed from and connected to the literature review. 
• A8. The data analysis plan should agree with the selected theoretical framework. 
• A9. Yes, the theoretical framework should support the research conclusions and recommendations based on data analysis.