“A study might omit inequality because of its research question or theoretical framework.”

Consider two studies.

Study A: Narrow research question

“How did average household income change from 1950 to 2000?”

The researcher may legitimately focus on average income.

That doesn't necessarily mean the researcher is denying inequality.

Study B: Theoretical framework

Suppose a researcher believes:

Economic development should primarily be evaluated through aggregate productivity.

They may focus on:

• GDP;
• productivity;
• investment;
• output.

Consequently, inequality may receive little attention.

But another researcher using a framework centered on distributive justice might emphasize:

• income distribution;
• wealth concentration;
• access to resources;
• class differences.

Both researchers can use the same historical period but produce very different pictures.

This illustrates something important:

A theoretical framework determines what the researcher treats as analytically central.

Again, that does not automatically make one framework false.

But it can make a study partial.