Theory is very important in analyzing research approach, be it maybe qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed research methods. Without the application of theory, research quality maybe undercut. There is a long tradition within qualitative research of theory being central and of critical importance. Qualitative research theory often equates with the methodologies used, but this is a complex relationship, plagued by lack of consensus among scholars regarding how theory and methodology are related. There is an article Bradbury-Jones, Taylor, & Herber, (2014) that furthers the debates on how theories are used in qualitative research,
The literature review is an essential part of the research process and a key component of the dissertation. It informs what is known about a topic and what might benefit from further exploration. One such strategy is to understand the components, or pieces, of the dissertation and their purposes before beginning research writing. Doing so will minimize your risk of completing certain pieces incorrectly and, thus, prevent you from unnecessary re-writes.
