Hi all,

I am doing my PhD in History/Library studies and wanted to ask some advice on the difference between a lit review and theoretical framework in the context of an interdisciplinary humanites PhD. I have tried to read up but a lot of it seems to be referring to science PhD's so I just wondered if anyone had any advice on if I have understood correctly and if the below makes sense in a humanities contexts:

- A literature review is the mandate for your research- this will change from the beginning to the end stage of the PhD from finding the gap and justifying the research to updating this to position research already done

- A theoretical framework takes the problem identified and outlines how you have approached the problem. I guess the theoretical framework is a kind of literature review- as you are assessing types of approach- but slightly different because you are taking concepts or approaches and arranging them to answer your research question? In this, it is more original research than a critical assessment of what exists?

Thanks in advance for any help

Your perspective on the literature review is accurate, but I think you're a bit confused about what a theoretical framework is. A theoretical framework is where you place your specific research problem/question within a pre-existing theory in order to create hypotheses, or develop your own theoretical framework from a combination of related theories which becomes the literal framework you use to structure your inquiries.

Excellent and a clear explanation PhoenixFortune!