Shamila Dawood
Affiliation: Dept. of Commercial Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Email: [email protected]
Abstract: For higher research students and early career researchers, the process of identifying and developing a theory, theoretical framework, and conceptual framework can be quite challenging. Identifying these frameworks is significant in academic writing, particularly in formulating research studies and situating them within a well-structured framework that guides the investigation. Legal research may not always clearly articulate the differences between a theoretical framework and a conceptual framework. This ambiguity can lead to confusion, as researchers often use these terms interchangeably without recognizing the important distinctions between them. This research finds that approaching these frameworks with clarity is essential for effectively communicating research objectives and methodologies. This research aims to attempt to identify the differences in legal research and find that understanding the differences helps not only strengthen the rigor of their studies but also contributes to a broader academic discourse, particularly within the legal field.
Keywords: Theory; Theoretical Framework; Legal Research; Conceptual Framework.