How to choose a theory: theory and conceptual frameworks in qualitative research

Choosing the lenses to interpret qualitative research data and defining the conceptual framework that actually speaks to the data to a reasonable extent is an important decision that researchers need to make.

It is this match that gives data academic rigour and will lead to contribution to knowledge.

Should theories be explored or decided before or after data collection?

This presentation will follow the journey of what theories were considered and which ones were chosen and why in a study that had as main source of data 39 life history interviews with young people in their mid-twenties who grew up in the care system.