Theoretical background of your thesis

Why is the theoretical background so important?

The theoretical framework provides the scientific basis on which you build your research. You present relevant theories that already exist in your subject area and show how your work builds on or expands these findings.

• Presents relevant theories and models
• Connects your research with the existing literature
• Provides a sound basis for answering your research questions

Building the theoretical background

Your theoretical background should have a clear structure and refer to central concepts and theories. The following elements are crucial:

• Definition of central terms
• Presentation of relevant theories and models
• Summary of the current state of research
• Analysis and comparison of different theoretical approaches

Tips for developing the theoretical framework

A well-structured theoretical background helps to clarify the basis of your work. Here are some tips on how to design it effectively:

• Structuring according to central concepts or research questions
• Clearly show how your research adds to the existing body of knowledge
• Compare different theories and models and choose the appropriate ones
• Use precise language to clearly present complex concepts

Important notes for the theoretical part

• The theoretical background should cover about 30-40% of the work
• Pay attention to correct citation and avoid plagiarism
• Do not answer research questions in the theoretical part

Example of a theoretical framework

An example of how you could structure your theoretical framework:

• Introduction:Define the central terms used in your work.
• State of research:Summarize the relevant studies and theories.
• Theories and models:Present the theoretical models that you use for your analysis.
• Research gaps:Explain where insufficient research still exists and how your work fills this gap.

Example of a theory and its application

It is important that you choose theories that have a direct relation to your research. Here is an example:

"In his work on consumer behavior research (Schneider, 2018), the author argues that the price of a product has a decisive influence on the purchase decision. This theory is used in this work to examine the relationship between pricing and customer loyalty in online retail."

Such theories help you to better anchor your research and present it in a scientifically sound manner. Always make sure to cite the appropriate sources correctly.