A doctoral research may start with a question regarding gaps in the relevant literature. Then, the researcher defines or explores conceptual/analytical framework and methodology in order to answer the research question/s. In some cases the research doesn't necessarily ends up with a comprehensive answer to the initial research question/s—as the gap in the literature may be relatively too large to be removed by the a single PhD research—and the answers might vary based on various contexts in which the research question may arise from. In such situations, the PhD thesis outcome may encompass :
1. Relatively fixed/clear answer to the research question but limited within the scope of case studies.
2. Generalizable analytical framework and the methodology developed during the research process which could be applied in future works to reply similar question in different contexts. This may eventually respond to the initial question and remove the gap in the literature.
Could the latter be regarded as the main outcome of the PhD thesis? In other words, could the methodology (developed during the research) itself becomes the main outcome of the PhD thesis?
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