Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research

by Sharon M. Ravitch, Matthew Riggan

Designed for novice as well as more experienced researchers embarking on a thesis or dissertation, as well as those advising them, this book presents conceptual frameworks as a mechanism for aligning literature review, research design, and methodology. Defined as an argument about why the topic of a study matters, and why the methods proposed to study it are appropriate and rigorous, the book explores the conceptual framework as both a process and a framework that helps to direct and ground researchers as they work through common research challenges.

Genres: Research, Education, Nonfiction, Research Methods, School

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2011

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two and last chapters were extremely helpful in articulating what a conceptual framework was, why it mattered, and how to develop one; while I've known about literature reviews since graduate school, Reason & Rigor deepened my mental image of these, as well as justifying the role of one's autobiographical stake in the research and ideological positioning in shaping one's research.

That said, the middle chapters with examples were difficult to follow and relate to. Especially since I am a beginning researcher, early in graduate school, I struggled to understand how the conceptual frameworks developed by people who've been in the field for decades, who create conceptual frameworks out of their prior research and theoretical structures, related to my own work, in its beginning stages. Also, while the examples are intended to be relevant to everybody, across fields, they're not really: more precise knowledge about currents and theories in education and policy research (the field from which the examples are drawn) is necessary to full understanding of the examples.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me completely rethink my dissertation. Cannot recommend enough.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great test for approaching and organizing research. Good reference material. Good tool for teaching graduate students.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book on conceptual frameworks....at times, it was too theoretical for me, but I did appreciate the examples in the middle chapters.

[Amelia Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for anyone writing a dissertation. It will help you get over the many slumps and roadblocks

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of the book were confusing and very repetitive. The examples were very helpful.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a little basic. Would be better suited to PhD 101 than as a text for those farther along

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snooze fest. Forced to read it for class.

[Elliedakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been struggling to find a good description of conceptual vs theoretical frameworks. I wish I would have read this near the start of my doctoral journey instead of near the end - it was extremely helpful. But I do recommend googling “conceptual framework images” to go along with it. These authors, in the last chapter, explain that they don’t like visual images because there is a risk of seeing them as a product instead of a process, but as a visual learner I can’t really “get it” until I see some visual examples. I’d suggest adding some visual examples.

[Ryan Giffen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful text for graduate students who desire a rich understanding in building a strong conceptual framework to their research. Personally found Chapters 1-3 the most useful and necessary.

[W]

good

[J. Phillip · Rating 2 out of 5]

First couple chapters were okay. Better books out there.