Research Design and Theoretical Framework

Some students have difficulties to tell the difference between a theoretical framework and a research design. I would like to refer to the following two blog articles on these two topics for reference. Essentially, a theoretical framework can be a major output of the literature review while Research Design should be explained in the Chapter of Research Methods in a dissertation report:

1. On research design: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2012/01/designing-research-design-discussion.html
2. On theoretical framework: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2011/08/use-of-theoretical-frameworks-in.html

The research design should be formulated in a way that produces data that can be analyzed using the theoretical framework produced from the literature review exercise. The research design should be driven by the theoretical framework in your dissertation report. Your theoretical framework can be employed to explain, predict and evaluate your findings from your executed research design.