For many students, the most difficult part of writing a dissertation is not the research itself, but understanding how different parts work together, in particular how important parts such as the literature review, theoretical framework, and conceptual framework differ — and how they should complement each other. These terms are often used inconsistently across disciplines and supervisors may give brief or vague guidance.

As a result, students frequently ask questions such as: Is the theoretical framework and literature review the same? or What is the difference between a conceptual framework and a theoretical framework?These are not naïve questions. They reflect genuine ambiguity in how dissertations are structured and assessed.

This guide clarifies what each section does, how they relate to one another in your dissertation, and how to avoid the most common structural and conceptual mistakes.

Literature Review: A Brief Overview

A literature review is a critical, structured discussion of existing research relevant to your dissertation topic. Its purpose is to demonstrate your understanding of the academic context in which your research sits and to justify why your study is necessary.

Unlike an annotated bibliography or a background section, a literature review is not organised around individual sources. Instead, it synthesises research into themes, debates, and methodological approaches, showing how knowledge and various debates in your field have developed over time.

The Purpose of a Literature Review

At its core, the literature review serves four key purposes:

  • to show what is already known about your topic
  • to identify areas of disagreement or debate
  • to evaluate the strengths and limitations of existing research
  • to reveal gaps that your dissertation will address

Literature Review as Analysis, Not Description

One of the most common weaknesses in dissertations is a literature review that is overly descriptive. Listing what authors say, even if well written, does not demonstrate critical engagement.

A strong literature review analyses the literature by:

  • Comparing contrasting viewpoints

    This means looking at how different authors disagree or approach the same topic from different angles, and explaining what those differences reveal about the field.

  • Questioning underlying assumptions

    Instead of taking arguments at face value, this involves thinking about what authors assume to be true and whether those assumptions actually hold up.

  • Evaluating methodologies and evidence

    This is about considering how studies were carried out, whether the methods were appropriate, and how reliable or convincing the evidence is.

  • Identifying patterns across studies

    Rather than treating each source separately, this involves spotting common themes or recurring findings that appear across multiple pieces of research.

Structuring a Literature Review

There is no single correct structure, but effective literature reviews are always logically organised. Common approaches include:

Thematic Structure
Research is grouped around key themes or concepts. This is one of the most common and flexible approaches, particularly in social sciences and humanities.

Chronological Structure
Literature is discussed in order of publication to show how thinking on a topic has evolved. This works well for historically grounded topics but often needs thematic sub-structuring to avoid becoming descriptive.

Methodological Structure
Studies are grouped by research design or method. This approach is useful when methodological debates are central to the research question.
Whichever structure you choose, it should support your argument and lead clearly towards your research aims.

A fuller overview of definitions, types, and examples can be found in our literature review guide.

How a literature review should look
If you are unsure how to move from reading sources to constructing a critical narrative, reviewing literature review examples can help clarify your expectations and structure.
View dissertation literature review example written by our expert academics

What Is a Theoretical Framework?

A theoretical framework explains how your research is conceptually grounded. It identifies the theory or theories that inform how you understand your research problem, shape your questions, and interpret your findings.

A theoretical framework is selective, so its aim isn't reviewing all relevant studies within your subject. It focuses on the theoretical perspective that best aligns with your research aims and explains why that perspective is appropriate.

In many dissertations, the theoretical framework underpins:

1. the definition of key concepts
2. the choice of methodology
3. the interpretation of results

Without a clear theoretical framework, research risks becoming fragmented or conceptually vague.

When a Theoretical Framework Is Needed

Not all dissertations require an explicit theoretical framework. However, it is usually expected when:

  • theory directly informs your research questions
  • you are testing, extending, or applying theory
  • interpretation depends on a specific conceptual lens

In these cases, making the theoretical framework explicit improves clarity and strengthens the coherence of the dissertation.

Difference Between Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

To sum up, the difference between a literature review and a theoretical framework lies in their function rather than their sources.

The literature review surveys and evaluates existing research. It is broad in scope and exploratory in purpose.

The theoretical framework is narrower and more focused. It selects specific theory to guide how the research is conducted and analysed.

In other words, the literature review asks what is known, while the theoretical framework explains how your study understands what is known.

Although theory often appears in the literature review, this does not mean the two sections perform the same role. Understanding this distinction helps avoid repetition and conceptual confusion.

Why Students Often Think the Theoretical Framework and Literature Review the Same

Students often encounter theory within the literature review and assume this fulfils the requirement for a theoretical framework. In some dissertations, theory is discussed extensively in the literature review, which can blur boundaries further.

Additionally, some supervisors prefer integrated chapters, reinforcing the impression that the sections are interchangeable.

Why They Are Not the Same

Even when theory is embedded within the literature review, it still serves a distinct purpose. The literature review evaluates existing research; the theoretical framework establishes the lens through which your research is interpreted.

While overlap is normal, duplication is not. Although both sections engage with existing literature, they do so for different reasons. Confusing the two often leads to dissertations that lack conceptual clarity or appear theoretically unfocused.

Conceptual Framework in a Dissertation

And what is a conceptual framework instead and how does it differ from a theoretical framework? A conceptual framework is a researcher-constructed model that explains the key concepts in your study and how they relate to one another. Unlike a theoretical framework, which draws primarily on established theory, a conceptual framework is typically developed from your engagement with the literature.

Forms of Conceptual Frameworks

Conceptual frameworks can be presented in different ways:

Narrative Conceptual Frameworks
These explain relationships between concepts in written form, often supported by references to the literature.

Visual Conceptual Frameworks
These use diagrams or models to illustrate how variables or concepts interact. Visual frameworks are common but should always be explained in accompanying text.

Conceptual Framework vs Theoretical Framework

The difference between a conceptual framework and a theoretical framework lies in their source and function.

A theoretical framework is grounded in established theory. It adopts a recognised theoretical perspective and applies it to your research.
A conceptual framework, by contrast, is synthesised from the literature. It draws on multiple sources to construct a model tailored to your specific study.

Conceptual frameworks are generally more flexible and context-specific, while theoretical frameworks tend to be more abstract and tightly defined.

Conceptual Framework vs Literature Review

The literature review plays a crucial role in shaping the conceptual framework. As you review existing studies, you identify recurring concepts, variables, and relationships. These insights inform the structure of your conceptual framework.

However, the conceptual framework should not simply restate what has already been discussed in the literature review. Instead, it synthesises that discussion into a coherent model that reflects your own research focus.

A common mistake is to repeat large sections of the literature review when explaining the conceptual framework. To avoid this, focus on explaining how the concepts connect and why you have selected them, rather than re-summarising individual studies.

For more guidance on developing depth and coherence in your literature review before moving into framework construction, see our tips on how to write a dissertation literature review.

Example: Literature Review, Theoretical Framework, and Conceptual Framework in a Dissertation

Now you have the theory, but how do a literature review, a theoretical framework and a conceptual framework look in a real dissertation? These sections can feel abstract until you see how they function within the same piece of research. In practice, all three can appear in a single dissertation without overlapping, because each serves a distinct purpose.

The brief example below shows how these elements might be used in a dissertation about representations of gender in Victorian novels using the same topic throughout. Although they draw on some of the same sources, each section does something different and contributes to the overall structure of the study in a specific way.

Literature Review Example

What have scholars already said about gender in Victorian novels?

The literature review surveys existing scholarship on gender in Victorian literature, examining how critics have interpreted representations of femininity and masculinity across the period. It compares different critical approaches, traces how interpretations have changed over time, and highlights ongoing debates within the field. The review also identifies gaps in the literature, such as limited analysis of less canonical novels or intersections between gender and social class.

Theoretical Framework Example

Which theory will be used to interpret the novels, and why?

The theoretical framework explains that the dissertation is guided by feminist literary theory. It outlines the key ideas from this theoretical perspective that are relevant to the study, such as power, ideology, and gendered social roles, and justifies their relevance to Victorian fiction. The framework clarifies how this theory shapes the interpretation of texts and informs the analytical approach taken in the dissertation.

Conceptual Framework Example

How do the key ideas in this dissertation connect to one another?

The conceptual framework sets out the specific concepts that structure the analysis, including domesticity, morality, agency, and class. Drawing on the literature and the chosen theoretical perspective, it explains how these concepts are used to examine representations of gender across the selected novels. Rather than adopting a single model, the framework synthesises ideas from existing scholarship to create a study-specific approach.

Bringing the Pieces Together

Understanding the roles of the literature review, theoretical framework, and conceptual framework is essential for producing a coherent, well-argued dissertation. While these elements are closely connected, they are not interchangeable.

The literature review maps the field, the theoretical framework provides an analytical lens, and the conceptual framework clarifies how key ideas relate within your specific study. When each section is clearly defined and carefully structured, they work together to strengthen your research rather than compete for space.

Writing a strong dissertation literature review — and integrating theory effectively — requires time, critical skill, and a clear understanding of examiner expectations.
If you would like expert support with planning, structuring, or refining your literature review, our academic experts can help.
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