Critical Documentary Review of the Conceptual Framework, Theoretical Framework, and State of the Art in Social and Humanistic Research: A Comparative Analysis of Structures, Functions, and Applications for the Consolidation of Epistemological Frameworks in Research

Abstract

Objective: This documentary review aims to comparatively analyze the conceptual framework, the theoretical framework, and the state of the art, identifying their structures, functions, and applications in research within the Social Sciences and Humanities.

Methodology: A documentary review was conducted using specialized databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, complemented by recent literature contributed by key authors in the field. The analysis included 50 indexed academic references, selected according to criteria of relevance, currency, and methodological rigor.

Results: Convergences were identified in their role of providing methodological coherence, and divergences were found in their level of abstraction, temporality of application, and the types of sources employed. The conceptual framework organizes and delimits concepts, the theoretical framework provides scientific grounding, and the state of the art critically synthesizes and contextualizes accumulated knowledge.

Conclusions: The three categories are not interchangeable but complementary; their articulated integration strengthens the epistemological and methodological soundness of doctoral research, enabling a robust design with academic impact.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/crlsj.582