What is a conceptual framework? How do you prepare one? This article defines the meaning of conceptual framework and lists the steps on how to prepare it. A simplified example is added to strengthen the reader’s understanding.
In preparing your research paper as one of the requirements for your course as an undergraduate or graduate student, you will need to write the conceptual framework of your study. The conceptual framework steers the whole research activity. The conceptual framework serves as a “map” or “rudder” that will guide you towards realizing your study’s objectives or intent.
What then, is a conceptual framework in the context of empirical research? The next section defines and explains the term.
Table of Contents
Definition of Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework represents the researcher’s synthesis of the literature on how to explain a phenomenon. It maps out the actions required in the course of the study, given his previous knowledge of other researchers’ point of view and his observations on the subject of research.
In other words, the conceptual framework is the researcher’s understanding of how the particular variables in his study connect. Thus, it identifies the variables required in the research investigation. It is the researcher’s “map” in pursuing the investigation.
As McGaghie et al. (2001) put it: The conceptual framework “sets the stage” to present the particular research question that drives the investigation being reported based on the problem statement. The problem statement of a thesis gives the context and the issues that caused the researcher to conduct the study.
The conceptual framework lies within a much broader framework called a theoretical framework. The latter draws support from time-tested theories that embody many researchers’ findings on why and how a particular phenomenon occurs.
I expounded on this definition, including its purpose, in my recent post titled “What is a Conceptual Framework? Expounded Definition and Five Purposes.”
4 Steps on How to Make the Conceptual Framework
Before you prepare your conceptual framework, you need to do the following things:
Choose your topic
Decide on what will be your research topic. The topic should be within your field of specialization.
Do a literature review
Review relevant and updated research on the theme that you decide to work on after scrutiny of the issue at hand. Preferably use peer-reviewed, and well-known scientific journals as these are reliable sources of information.
Isolate the important variables
Identify the specific variables described in the literature and figure out how these are related. Some abstracts contain the variables, and the salient findings thus may serve the purpose. If these are not available, find the research paper’s summary.
If the variables are not explicit in summary, get back to the methodology or the results and discussion section and quickly identify the study variables and the significant findings. Read the TSPU Technique to skim articles efficiently and get to the essential points without much fuss.
Generate the conceptual framework
Build your conceptual framework using your mix of the variables from the scientific articles you have read. Your problem statement or research objective serves as a reference for constructing it. In effect, your study will attempt to answer the question that other researchers have not explained yet. Your research should address a knowledge gap.
Example of a Conceptual Framework
Research Topic
Statement number 5 introduced in an earlier post titled How to Write a Thesis Statement will serve as the basis of the illustrated conceptual framework in the following examples.
The youth, particularly students who need to devote a lot of time using their mobile phones to access their course modules, laptops, or desktops, are most affected. Also, they spend time interacting with their mobile phones as they communicate with their friends on social media channels like Facebook, Messenger, and the like. When free, many students spend their time viewing films on Netflix, Youtube, or similar sites. These activities can affect their sleeping patterns and cause health problems in the long run because light-emitting diode (LED) exposure reduces the number of hours spent sleeping.
Thesis Statement
Related to the students’ activity, we can write the thesis statement thus:
Thesis statement: Chronic exposure to blue light from LED screens (of computer monitors, mobile phones, tablets, and television) deplete melatonin levels, thus reducing the number of sleeping hours among the youth, particularly students who need to work on their academic requirements.
Review of Literature
The literature supports the thesis statement as among those that catches one’s attention is a paper that warns against the use of LED devices at night. Although we can save a lot of electrical energy by using the efficient LED where the inventors Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura received a Nobel prize in Physics in 2014, there is growing evidence that it can cause human health problems particularly cancer.
Haim & Zubidat (2015) of the Israeli Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Chronobiology synthesized the literature about LEDs. They found out that blue light from the light-emitting diodes (LED) inhibits melatonin production, particularly during active secretion at night. Melatonin is a neuro-hormone that regulates sleep and wake cycles. Also, it can slow down aging and prevent cancer (Srinivasan et al., 2011).
Thus, looking directly at your laptop, mobile phone, or television at night not only can severely damage your eyes but also prevent the achievement of sound sleeping patterns. As a countermeasure, sleep experts recommend limiting the use of digital devices until 8 o’clock in the evening.
Those affected experience insomnia (see 10 Creative Ways on How to Get Rid of Insomnia); they sleep less than required (usually less than six hours), and this happens when they spend too much time working on their laptops, monitoring conversations or posts in social media sites using their mobile phones, or viewing the television at night.
Variables Isolated from the Literature
Using the background information backed by evidence in the literature review, we can now develop the study’s paradigm on the effect of LED exposure to sleep. We will not include all of the variables mentioned and select or isolate only those factors that we are interested in.
Figure 1 presents a visual representation, the paradigm, of what we want to correlate in this study. It shows measurable variables that can produce data that we can analyze using a statistical test such as either the parametric test Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation or the nonparametric Spearman Rho test.
Notice that the variables of the study are explicit in the paradigm presented in Figure 1. In the illustration, the two variables are
1) the number of hours devoted in front of the computer, and
2) the number of hours slept through the night until dawn.
The former is the independent variable, while the latter is the dependent variable. Both of these variables are easy to measure. It is just counting the number of hours spent in front of the computer and the number of hours slept through the night by the study subjects.
Assuming that other things are constant during the study’s performance, it will be possible to relate these two variables and confirm that, indeed, blue light emanated from computer screens can affect one’s sleeping patterns. (Please read the article titled “Do you know that the computer can disturb your sleeping patterns?” to find out more about this phenomenon). A correlation analysis will show whether the relationship is significant or not.
Evolution of a Social Theory as Basis of Conceptual Framework Development
Related to the development of the conceptual framework, I wrote a comprehensive article on how a social theory develops by incisively looking at current events that the world is facing now — the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows how society as a whole responds to a threat to its very survival.
Specifically, this article focuses on the COVID-19 vaccine, how it develops and gets integrated into the complex fabric of human society. It shows how the development of the vaccine is only part of the story. A major consideration in its development resides in the supporters of the vaccine’s development, the government, and the recipients’ trust, thus final acceptance of the vaccine.
Social theory serves as the backdrop or theoretical framework of the more focused or variable level conceptual framework. Hence, the paradigm that I develop at the end of that article can serve as a lens to examine how the three players of vaccine development interact more closely at the variable level. It shows the dynamics of power and social structure and how it unfolds in response to a pandemic that affects everyone.
Check out the article titled “Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine: More Than 90% Effective Against the Coronavirus.” This article shall enrich your knowledge on how an abstract concept narrows down into blocks of researchable topics.
e-Books on Conceptual Framework Development
Due to the many questions about the conceptual framework in this article’s comment section, I wrote an e-Book dedicated to the students’ specific queries. This e-Book answers the many questions and comments regarding the preparation of the conceptual framework.
I provide five practical examples in the original version, based on the readers’ suggested topics, supported by a brief review of existing literature to demonstrate the procedure. In the more recent 2020 version of the eBook, I added five more topics from the audience for a total of ten topics. Hence, the examples represent several disciplines like management, education, business, agriculture, the environment, among others.
This eBook is available in the eBook Store. You may click on the eBook’s image to get more information about the contents.
REFERENCE
Haim, A., & Zubidat, A. E. (2015). LED light between Nobel Prize and cancer risk factor. Chronobiology International, 32(5), 725-727.
McGaghie, W. C.; Bordage, G.; and J. A. Shea (2001). Problem Statement, Conceptual Framework, and Research Question. Retrieved on January 5, 2015 from http://goo.gl/qLIUFg
Srinivasan, V., R Pandi-Perumal, S., Brzezinski, A., P Bhatnagar, K., & P Cardinali, D. (2011). Melatonin, immune function and cancer. Recent patents on endocrine, metabolic & immune drug discovery, 5(2), 109-123.
©2015 January 5 P. A. Regoniel
Updated 11/24/20
i want to use this book because it is very useful book. for developing thesis
its really interesting………………….
good stuff for postgraduate students
I heard about conceptual framework recently and I’m supposed to include it in my paper. I am doing determinants of vegetables. Could you please offer some assistance on how to go by it?
I really need an extra hand on how to go by mine, even if a sample is available, I would really appreciate.
Dear Gideon,
What do you mean by determinants of vegetable? Are you growing vegetables? What do you intend to do?
I am to include it in my term paper, the topic is historical development of American art
I heard about a conceptual framework from a friend and I want to use it in my study titled conceptual framework in teaching and learning in electrical technology. Infact I am confused in drawing the objectives because ideas from others. when I accidentally login your website I found that you can be a solution to my problem. please I will appreciate if given attention. thank you
Dear Satumari, please just clarify what you intend to do in your study. Be clear on what is the purpose or objective of your study.
My research top is : Roles of negotiate in conflict resolution, a case of Gulu Uganda.
Question, does this research top fit in well for Governance and international relations student?
How best can I come up with the conceptual framework? Considering the IV and DV.
Any help?
I meant roles of negotiation in conflict resolution. Sorry for the typo in the previous submission
I really need help on how to design a framework of impact assessment of reuse of electronic waste in a company I am doing an internship with. Can you help me with the step by step guide on what to do
Dear sir regoniel, i am having a hard time about how to make conceptual framework of my thesis, please help me. My study title is ‘determinants of speacialty preferences among radiologic technologist and its impact to job satisfaction. Please sir i need your help. Thank you in advance.
please I need conceptual framework on accessment of agricultural support services on yam production
Kindly help me in designing a conceptual framework. My resesrch topic is on RRFERRAL PROCESS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING ITS UTILIZATION IN SELECTED HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS
please I need you to help me develope the theoritcal and conceptual framework my topic is the impact of exchange rate on construction project delivery in the construction industry
So how would you learn it if he has to develop it for you? Please, I don’t mean to be mean but academics does not work that way. You read through and then ask for questions for guide. That way, you would learn for future. You get what I mean?
kindly help me making conceptual framework about implementing monthly coastal clean up. Please <3
Dear Patrick,
I thank you immensely for the blog posts. I am super grateful! You wouldn’t really understand how helpful this is to me.
Thank you!
Welcome Chisom… And thank you for helping me advocate for self-learning. That is the intention of this site.
My study is about investigating the uterotonic activity of herbal medicines that induce labour. I need to produce a conceptual framework. Please help.
The topic of my technical study is titled I quote, ‘ The impacts of informal land subdivision in peri-urban areas’ case study of XYZ municipality , please kindly advise on how to formulate a conceptual framework of my study.
@Phiri and John, please read the article and see which of the things I explained are not clear. Thank you.
How to make theoritical framework and conceptual framework in eat all you can business?
Dear Irene, what do you want to know?
Am supposed to develop a conceptual framework based on three variables; abusive supervision, organization justice and CWBs… But its challenging. Any help please
Dear Christine, you need to read the literature about your keywords. Just be clear about what you want to do. What is the issue that you want to understand, or a problem that you want to solve. Start from there.
Please I need help on using conceptual and theoretical framework for decongestion of a city
Sir, i am having a hard time about how to make conceptual framework of my thesis, please assist. My study title is Incidence, characterization and management of onion purple blotch disease . Please sir I need your usual cooperation. Thank you.
Dear Iliya, please read literature about purple blotch disease. Find out what are the causes of this disease and see if there are unaddressed issues or gaps in knowledge that you would like to study.
Help me to create a conceptual framework of my study: Bullying and Performance among Students”
Dear Cicelle, you need to identify the indicators of bullying and relate this to academic performance if that’s what you mean.
hello Mister:
If my study is descriptive quantitative research, do I have to make a conceptual framework like in a paradigm? or should I just write a descriptive paragraph?
I hope you could help me with this.
Thank you.
I have the same question, my study is a descriptive-survey, how to make a conceptual framework for this? Thank you very much
Dear Raz, please read the expanded version of my explanation of the need for a conceptual framework in this more recent post: https://simplyeducate.me/2020/11/05/what-is-a-conceptual-framework/
Hello Mary Rose, in working out a conceptual framework, you are showing things which have been done and what you intend to do. It serves as a guide in understanding what the study is all about. Since your work is quantitative, I assume you will be relating some variables with something else. Hence, you need a conceptual framework to guide you along the way.
What do you intend to do by the way? What are the objectives of your study?
Hi Patrick!
Thank you very much for responding to the question from Mary Rose as it was also clicking on my mind too after reading your notes and my little knowledge on research,
Welcome Mathias. Your research objective becomes clear as you read the literature. The key is identifying the focus of your study, i.e., what can you add to the present body of knowledge.
How i write a conceptual frame work in APA format?
Would you please tell me?
Help me with a conceptual framework on The relationship between health literacy and water, sanitation and hygiene practices in cholera affected communities.
Dear Winnie, your independent variable is health literacy and the dependent variable is water, sanitation and hygiene practices as measured by your indicators. For example, the frequency of hand washing in a day may be your measure.
I need the book it seems it can help me to complete my research on Incidents/accident in the fuel Industry
Hi
Thank you for sharing this guide with us.
The title for my study is- the lived experiences of stigma related to hearing aid usage. I have been struggling to make a conceptual framework for my study. I do have objectives and a research question. My problem is, I do not know how to structure the Conceptual Framework. Please help.
thank you
Dear Gcinile, what you want to do is a qualitative study if you will just describe people’s accounts. However, from what I could surmise from your study you would like to associate the use of hearing aid and stigma. That could qualify as a quantitative study. The independent variable may be a visible or not visible hearing aid and the dependent variable will be stigma which can measured by the level of confidence a person has if wearing a hearing aid. If you will just associate them, then your framework will be just the concepts hearing aid use and stigma: hearing aid use –> stigma and expound on them in your paper. You should define as well these terms.
My topic is”The influence of headmasters leadership behavior on teachers job commitment. Any help to construct the conceptual framework?
Dear Lincoln, find literature on leadership style and job-related concerns. Try to find a way to measure job commitment. What is its indicator?
How to write conceptual framework on “how can overcrowded classroom affect academic performance of the primary school students”?
Thanks so much for this explanation.
Dear Prof
How can I write a conceptual framework on ” an exploration on the challenges facing the teaching and learning of calculation of elapsed time in Grade 3″
Dear Bulelwa, please make your statement of the problem clear first. What do you want to do? Why do you want to do such study? To make that clear, you need to review the literature to find out what others have done along your research concern.
Dear Prof
How can I write a conceptual framework on ” A Conceptual Framework for Mobile Augmented Reality Environment for Young Children using Assistive Button Interaction” ? I hope you can help me to give idea . Thank you
Dear Amira, review the literature to see how mobile augmented reality affects young children. You need to read to find out.
Dear Prof
Help me with a conceptual framework on an Online fleet Management system . Thank you
Dear John, you need to make clear first what you intend to do. You have such a broad topic.
My only question is: is it necessary to use both theoretical and conceptual frameworks or one may substitute the other depending on the nature of the study? I have come across studies that use both and others that opt for either of the two. Seriously need a help.
Dear Prof
Help me with a conceptual framework, my topic is on challenges of debt management in a hyperinflation economy
Dear Charles, that’s too broad a topic. What do you want to look into about debt management? Are you talking about an individual or an organization? Narrow your topic further.
i am carrying a study on debt management of a specific local authority
Dear Charles, so what do you intend to do with the challenges of debt management of that specific local authority? You should clearly state the purpose of your research. So what if you know the challenges?
Besides, I’m investigating how personality traits are related to language learning strategies among EFL learners. I have hardly found a single theoretical framework that could account for the two. Accordingly, I have opted for only a conceptual framework with personality traits being my predictor variables and language learning strategies the criterion variables. Any assistance please.
Regards,
Renatha
Dear Renatha, as I’ve mentioned, the conceptual framework is your own construction based on the theories you have reviewed. It is just fine to have a combination of theories to come up with your own idea on how things are related. That’s how science works. We synthesize previous findings.
Dear Patrick,
I wrote a paper on how the COVID-19 has affected the labor market and now I have to write the conceptual framework.
I would like to know if the conceptual framework has to be a different chapter in the paper or I have to write only 2-3 sentences about what I intend to do with my study?
In the case I have to write only 2-3 ideas, in which chapter(Introduction, methodology, conclusion, etc) should I introduce the conceptual framework?
Thanks a lot!
Dear Cristina, considering that the conceptual framework provides the “map” of your study, it should be placed after introducing your topic and reviewing the literature. It’s your construct of how things are related after seeing others’ viewpoints where you saw a “gap” on what has already been done. If you are using the IMRAD format, that means you have to integrate it in your Introduction.
VERY GOOD MATERIAL FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME . THAN
im asking your advice guys, because our research topic is learning challenges in new normal and im having a hard time citing authors ugh help me
Dear Dowell, please read this article to guide you on how to go about your review of literature: https://simplyeducate.me/2018/02/16/review-of-literature/
Hi, my research topic is Demographics of unemployed residents in barangay indulang what are the variables here?
Dear Twinky, you are the one who should define your variables in your demographics. Demographics is the study of a population so the variables you will consider will be factors like age, educational attainment, sex, years unemployed, etc. The variables you include will depend on the objectives of your study.
Hi … I have finished designing the conceptual framework for my study. I want to ask what I should do with the variables in the framework. Am I supposed to define the variables or to explain them?. If an explanation is needed, then how should I go about it?
Please do assist, I am greatly in need of some assistance.
Dear Lizy, if it is a thesis, you will need to include the variables in the Definition of Terms section of your study. Define the words in your study using a reference (conceptual definition), or define them as you intend them to mean (operational definition).
Good day! Thank you so much for this very informative post about the conceptual framework. I was able to understand it now. It’s very organized and well-explained.
Dear Cindy, good day, too. I am glad that you find this article very informative. I’m happy that my writing has served you well just like the others. Keep safe…
Dear Patrick,
Good day. A question please, must the variables that are used in the conceptual framework appear on the literature review? Or can one use other variables of a concept that are not mentioned in the literature review or in the research proposal?
Dear Atabongwoung,
You can always add a variable that you find relevant in your study. Relevance means that you have a sound basis for adding that variable. It may be something that you yourself observed to influence the dependent variable but found no reference material to cite. You must, however, watch out for spurious variables, meaning, variables that may have an effect but which may be just coincidental.
Do descriptive studies require a conceptual framework?
Yes. You may develop a conceptual framework for a qualitative study but it all boils down to the study’s objectives. Qualitative studies may not always require a conceptual framework. I discussed this concern in my ebook on conceptual framework.
I am doing a lived experience qualitative study, How do I decide on a conceptual framework
Good day! I would like to seek help because. I am struggling with my conceptual framework of on my quantitative research. my title is Factors of Cigarette Smoking Among Student
Hello, I am interested in learning more about the conceptual framework and wanted to buy the second edition of your eBook. However, the Paypal link doesn’t seem to work, despite multiple trials. Would you mind looking into this issue? Thanks!
This article is very helpful, especially for a young researcher like me. Thanks a lot.
Incredible indeed! I have learned a l0t while reading this article. It’s crucial and helpful.
Good day, I am working in a thesis on the effect of communication and information as a tool for information at the workplace and I am wondering what my conceptual framework should be like.
Dear Ruth, perhaps what you intend to do is to find out if the communication tool (whatever it is) affects the work productivity of the employees. You have to be clear with the objectives of your study. Just type “research objectives” in the search box of this website and it will show you the articles related to writing the research objectives.
My research topic is ‘identification of difficult concepts in teaching basic science and technology in junior secondary schools’
Pls give me the theoretical/conceptual frame work. Thank you.
Dear Moses, what do you mean by difficult concepts? It’s too broad. What may be difficult to one person may not be difficult to another.