Although practices, institutions and frames are all inter-related
and overlapping concepts, I distinguish between the three for analytical
purposes. Contrary to Rönnblom and Bacchi and some DI scholars
(Arts and Buizer, 2009) I do not merge institutions and practices into
one concept, such as ‘institutionalised practices’. I consider discrepancy
between what articulated rules say should be done (institutions)
and how things in fact are done (practices) central to studying policypractice
interface, and therefore treat institutions and practices as separate
concepts. Some discourse analysts, on the other hand, do not distinguish
between discourse and practice. However, I agree with Arts
and Buizer (2009) that it is necessary to analytically separate between
discourses (frames) and the behaviour that they seek to normalise
(practices). The framework here distinguishes also between institutions
and frames because this allows for the distinction between articulated
and conscious rules of behaviour on one hand, and the more subtle
and often unconscious framing of reality, on the other. In this respect
it is different from sociological institutionalism, which treats frames as
one type of institution.