For all empirical research, you must choose a conceptual or theoretical framework to “frame” or “ground” your study. Theoretical and/or conceptual frameworks are often difficult to understand and challenging to choose which is the right one (s) for your research objective (Hatch, 2002). Truthfully, it is difficult to get a real understanding of what these frameworks are and how you are supposed to find what works for your study. The discussion of your framework is addressed in your Chapter 1, the introduction and then is further explored through in-depth discussion in your Chapter 2 literature review.
- Next, we’ll take a closer look at the difference between conceptual and theoretical frameworks.
- Depending on what you are writing, the theoretical framework can encompass an entire chapter of your research or be incorporated into the literature review section of a thesis or dissertation.
- Homogeneous groups worked better during interaction-rich activities for students with low reasoning ability.
- A conceptual framework should describe the relationship among components of the investigation (Anfara and Mertz, 2014).
In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake. Theoretical frameworks are one of the most contemplated elements in our work in educational research. In this section, we share three important considerations for new scholars selecting a theoretical framework.
Examples of theoretical and conceptual frameworks
Sabel et al. (2017) used a conceptual framework in their exploration of how scaffolds, an external factor, interact with internal factors to support student learning. Their conceptual framework integrated principles from two theoretical frameworks, self-regulated learning and metacognition, to illustrate how the research team conceptualized students’ use of scaffolds in their learning (Figure 1). Sabel et al. (2017) created this model using their interpretations of these two frameworks in the context of their teaching. Do not leave the theory hanging out there in the introduction never to be mentioned again. The theoretical framework you describe should guide your study throughout the paper. One theoretical framework may not be appropriate for all studies based on different reasons, and that is why you may need to do the conceptual one (if you choose other people’s ideas or findings that are not based on theories).
- A theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory/theories underpinning the research problem.
- A theory is a set of interrelated concepts and definitions that present a systematic view of phenomena by describing the relationship among the variables for explaining these phenomena.
- In the subjectivist inductive approach, theory not only exists as an abstract description that researchers read and debate, but it can also reside within the researcher as a cognitive frame that shapes his or her thinking and research design choices.
- The conceptual framework examines the research’s specific variables, as identified in a study.
However, the terms “theoretical” and “conceptual” are often confused or used interchangeably to designate all the ideas that are used to define and shape an intellectual study. When in doubt, consult your professor or a source within your field of research to determine which term to use. Pubrica’s team of researchers and writers generates scientific and medical research articles that might be significant resources for practitioners and authors. Pubrica medical writers aid you in creating and rewriting the introduction by informing the reader of the gaps in the selected research field. Our experts are aware of the sequence in which the broad topic, issue, and background are followed by the particular subject in which the hypothesis is given. Theoretical framework simply states the theory aspect of your work, the existing, tested and viable theories backing up your current research.
Example of a conceptual framework
High-performing students provided the answers, while students with low reasoning ability had to work collectively through the material. In terms of Vygotsky (1978), this finding provided new insights into the learning context in which productive interactions can occur for students. The answers to these questions come from a thorough review of the literature and your course readings [summarized and analyzed in the next section of your paper] and the gaps in the research that emerge from the review process. With this in mind, a complete theoretical framework will likely not emerge until after you have completed a thorough review of the literature.
Literature Reviews, Theoretical Frameworks, and Conceptual Frameworks: An Introduction for New Biology Education Researchers
A conceptual framework, in essence, is a system of concepts, assumptions, and beliefs that supports and informs your research. It outlines the specific variables or concepts you’ll examine in your study and proposes relationships between them. It’s more detailed and specific than a theoretical framework, acting as a contextualized guide for the collection and interpretation of empirical data. A conceptual framework is a description of the way a researcher understands the factors and/or variables that are involved in the study and their relationships to one another. The purpose of a conceptual framework is to articulate the concepts under study using relevant literature (Rocco and Plakhotnik, 2009) and to clarify the presumed relationships among those concepts (Rocco and Plakhotnik, 2009; Anfara and Mertz, 2014).
A researcher is like a civil engineer which designs, plans and analyzes the model for building constructions. Conceptual framework is another form of basic framework of research that offers logical structure that connect process, and guide image of how ideas in a research relate to one another— within the theoretical framework (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Conceptual framework is a concept that bind all assumptions and rules or procedures to define a larger picture. A theoretical framework in research can be defined as a set of concepts, theories, ideas, and assumptions that help you understand a specific phenomenon or problem. It can be considered a blueprint that is borrowed by researchers to develop their own research inquiry. A theoretical framework in research helps researchers design and conduct their research and analyze and interpret their findings.
An emerging topic of study may need an exploratory approach that allows for a description of the phenomenon and development of a potential theory. This could, but not necessarily, require a methodological approach that uses interviews, observations, surveys, or other instruments. An extensively studied topic may call for the additional understanding of specific factors or variables; this type of study would be well suited to a verification or a causal research design. These could entail a methodological approach that uses valid and reliable instruments, observations, or interviews to determine an effect in the studied event. In either of these examples, the researcher(s) may use a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods methodological approach. On the other hand, a conceptual framework is more specific to the research problem and provides a visual representation of the relationships between variables.
Examples of conceptual frameworks include the definitions a sociologist uses to describe a culture and the types of data an economist considers when evaluating a country’s industry. The conceptual framework consists of the ideas that are used to define research and evaluate data. Conceptual frameworks are often laid out at the beginning of a paper or an experiment description for a reader to understand the methods used (Mensah et al., 2020). Often, the terms theoretical framework and conceptual framework are used interchangeably, which, in this author’s opinion, makes an already difficult to understand idea even more confusing. According to Imenda (2014) and Mensah et al. (2020), there is a very distinct difference between conceptual and theoretical frameworks, not only how they are defined but also, how and when they are used in empirical research.
Associated Data
It is ultimately the researcher’s assumption(s) about the phenomenon that aligns with a theoretical framework. An example can help illustrate how a researcher’s reflection on the phenomenon and acknowledgment of assumptions can result in the identification of a theoretical framework. A solid literature review clearly anchors the proposed study in the field and connects the research question(s), the methodological approach, and the discussion. Reviewing extant research leads to research questions that will contribute to what is known in the field. By summarizing what is known, the literature review points to what needs to be known, which in turn guides decisions about methodology.
Theoretical frameworks are thus important components of the research process and researchers should therefore devote ample amount of time to develop a solid theoretical framework so that it can effectively guide their research in a suitable direction. We hope this article has provided a good insight into the concept of theoretical frameworks in research and their benefits. Consider a study exploring the impact of classroom environments on student learning outcomes. The theoretical framework might be grounded in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, which offers a broad lens for understanding how students learn and process information.
Overview: Theoretical vs Conceptual
You will also see the differences and similarities of theoretical and conceptual framework. A robust conceptual or theoretical framework is crucial https://personal-accounting.org/what-are-the-variations-between-conceptual/ when writing a thesis/dissertation. It defines your research gap, identifies your approach, and guides the interpretation of your results.
If more than one theory is used, the researcher must also describe how the theories inform each other and how they inform all aspects of the study. This is the work the researcher engages in to demonstrate how theory informs all aspects of the study design. In this design, the researcher develops the theoretical framework before the study is carried out; however, the theoretical framework can be adjusted during the research processes in response to the insights and understandings being developed.
