reply positively: From a practical standpoint, theory directs the selection and organization of variables. Independent or predictor variables, dependent or outcome variables, and additional variables such as mediators, moderators, or confounders are all grounded in the theoretical framework. Theory tells the researcher what is worth measuring, how variables should relate, and in what order these relationships should occur. Hypothesescore components of quantitative workare simply testable predictions derived directly from theory. Theoretical frameworks also strengthen the quality and validity of the study. They help researchers justify why certain methods are used, guide the development of instruments, and inform statistical analyses. When results are generated, the framework allows the researcher not only to report what happened but also to interpret why it happened and how it fits into the broader body of scholarly knowledge. Ultimately, the theoretical framework transforms a quantitative dissertation from a technical exercise into a meaningful scientific contribution. It anchors the study in existing research, ensures methodological consistency, provides the logic for variable relationships, and supports interpretation of findings. Without a clear and well-developed theoretical framework, the study risks being unfocused, atheoretical, and difficult to justifywhereas with a strong one, the dissertation becomes a coherent, rigorous, and impactful piece of scholarship