Digital Media and Information in Society/Theoretical Frameworks

What is a theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework provides a foundational structure for research, offering guiding concepts and perspectives. It shapes inquiry, determines methodology, and interprets findings within a specific context.

75 words

A theoretical framework is the backbone for research endeavors.
Acts as a lens for scholars to view, analyze, and interpret subjects.
Provides a structured set of concepts, ideas, and principles.
Offers context for understanding specific phenomena.
Influences the questions posed in research.
Shapes the methodologies chosen.
Directs interpretations of research findings.
Provides a pre-defined perspective.
Guides research direction and focus.
Grounds research within broader academic discourses and traditions.

200 words

A "theoretical framework" provides the structural foundation for academic research, illuminating the interwoven theories, concepts, and definitions central to an investigation. This isn't merely a backdrop; it's the guiding lens that shapes the research's trajectory, ensuring precision, focus, and pertinence. By embedding research within wider academic conversations, the framework lends both purpose and context.

In the humanities, with its deep dive into human experiences, culture, and expression, the significance of a theoretical framework becomes amplified. For instance, a scholar employing **Feminist Theory** in studying the telephone might explore how this technology reshaped gender roles in the 20th century. They could investigate its role in expanding women's social freedoms, or its media portrayal as a primarily female-used tool. Did the telephone fortify existing gender norms, or subtly subvert them by granting women a broader communicative reach?

On another note, a researcher leveraging **Actor-Network Theory** could delve into the world of photography. They might dissect the network of relationships between humans and non-human entities in the evolution of the camera. How did the interactions between photographers, subjects, camera manufacturers, and even the photos themselves shape the cultural significance of photography?

These frameworks equip humanities scholars with tools for deep analysis. Using these lenses, they can offer intricate, contextually rich interpretations of information technologies, ensuring their research is grounded and insightful.

Eight selected theoretical frameworks for the humanities

I've selected eight influential theories that have garnered significant scholarly attention over the past few decades. These were chosen based on their pertinence to the humanities, their capacity to frame questions about cultural and social issues surrounding information technologies, and their implications on the affordances of these technologies. Delving into each will provide insights into different facets of media and technology's relationship with society. Here are these notable frameworks:

Semiotics and Media - An exploration of signs, symbols, and meanings within media contexts. Wikipedia article
Actor-Network Theory - Examines relational ties between entities, be they objects, ideas, or people. Wikipedia article
Postcolonialism - Analyzes the cultural legacy of colonialism and its contemporary ramifications. Wikipedia article
Narrative Theory - Investigates stories, their structures, and how they shape human understanding. Wikipedia article
Critical Theory - Questions power structures, ideologies, and societal norms to foster societal change. Wikipedia article
Phenomenology of Technology - Explores human experience and consciousness in relation to technology. Wikipedia article
Cultural Materialism - Focuses on the role of material conditions in shaping cultural practices. Wikipedia article
Feminist Media Theory - Analyzes media's role in reinforcing or challenging gender roles and biases. Wikipedia article