Conceptual Framework / Research Framework

Conceptual framework is the section of chapter 1 that presents a visual and textual discussion of the specifications of the concepts that are examined by the study, and the relationships being tested in the research. For quantitative research, it has to specify and define the variables in the study, and present the relationships being hypothesized in the research. For certain qualitative designs, this describes the contexts surrounding phenomenon under study (other qualitative research designs do not require a conceptual framework). For mixed methods, it explains how the phenomena examined in the quantitative and qualitative components of the study are connected.

This is the pattern of presenting the section:

1.     Present a diagram that provides a snapshot of all the research variables and the relationships examined. This is called a conceptual paradigm.

a.     It should be clear in the visual which are variables/concepts and sub-variables/sub-concepts.

b.     Placement of the variables and the arrows must clearly denote the independent, dependent, moderating and mediating variables.

c.     Manifest variables are enclosed in boxes, while latent variables are enclosed in ovals.

d.     Label the figure accordingly.

2.      Discuss the nature and parameters of the variables/concepts, including the context that they are embedded in your study. Each variable/concept should have its own paragraph. The explanation must be supported by properly cited related literature.

3.     Explain the nature of the relationships you are describing or testing in the study. Again, the arguments must be supported by properly cited literature.

4.     The shapes, arrows, positions and other visual symbols in the conceptual paradigm should also be discussed.

Research framework. Some studies are may opt to offer a more pragmatic and procedure-based visualization of the study. These studies may use an input-throughput/process-output-(feedback) model or a baseline-intervention-output (OXO) model in presenting the concepts in the study. When these paradigms are used, this section is called a research framework. The presentation of the research framework section follows the same pattern stipulated above.

Based on the design and the intent of the researcher, a research manuscript may have both conceptual and research frameworks. For example, an experimental study need a theory that supports the intervention, a conceptual framework to identify independent, dependent and mediating/blocking variables and a research framework to denote a pretest-intervention-posttest process.

Operational framework. Some studies may need to have a separate subsection on operational framework if there is a need to specify the metrics and the parameters in which the concepts have to be measured. The presentation of the operation framework follows the same pattern as conceptual/research framework.