NURS 12 NURSING RESEARCH I

MODULE 11:
CONCEPTUAL PHASE: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND THE USES

OBJECTIVES

After the completion of this module, the students will learn to:
☐ Define what is a concept, framework, and conceptual model.
☐ Review the meaning of theoretical elements: construct, concept and variable, and their link as
theoretical elements.
☐ Identify different approaches on how to develop a conceptual model or framework in a research
studies.
☐ Understand how to write and appraise a conceptual framework for use in a given Nursing research
study.
☐ Describe how the conceptual model can be utilized in guiding a Nursing research study.

INSTRUCTIONS TO LEARNERS
☐ You can work on this module within the given time period for the course.
☐ As a student, you are expected to read, study and complete the attached assignments, activities, and things
to do.
☐ All submissions are expected to be submitted through the CVSU e-Learning System or Google Classroom
created for NURS12 in the student’s submissions box / folders. Other submissions aside from these sites
mentioned, will not be honored.
☐ Late submissions will still be accepted, but with corresponding demerits.
PRE - ACTIVITY
 Pre- Activity: Things to do at home before the class for Module 11
1. Gather your old notes in your SHS research class, if you still have them or review
topics on concept and conceptual framework on your research books and back read.

2. Review about Nursing concept/s and its uses in the quantitative or qualitative
research by reading in advance.

3. Advance search and read journal article authored by DiNapoli, P.P. (2009). Early
initiation of tobacco use in adolescent girls: key to sociocultural influences. Applied
Nursing research, 22 (2), pp. 127- 128.

4. Read in advance the reference book by Burns, N., Grove, S. K., 2013, Burns and
Grove’s Understanding Nursing Research Building an Evidence-Based
Practice, Adapted Philippine Edition, Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Chapter 7,
Understanding Theory and Research Frameworks, pp. 233-257.

5. Study and understand the Study Framework of the following research studies in the
book of Burns & Grove:
5.1 Sociological Model of Health Behavior. Figure 7-4. p. 238 – 239,

5.2 Women to women Conceptual Model for adaptation to Chronic Illness. Fig.
7-5. p. 251-253.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (LESSONS / STUDY SHEETS /SUGGESTED PROJECTS)
After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:

☐ Describe which phase in the Nursing Research process is the Conceptual Framework. ☐ Write
and properly formulate/design a conceptual model or framework for a research study. ☐ Appraise
and critique a conceptual framework.

Lesson Overview: Conceptual Phase of the Nursing Research Process

Module 7: Nursing ems

and its purposes
 Module 8: Research
Variables

Module 9: Reviews
of Related Literature

Module 10:
Theoretical
Framework and its
uses

Module 11:
Conceptual
Framework and its
uses

Module 12:
Research Hypothesis
and Assumptions

Module 11 Lesson Topic: Conceptual Framework and the uses in nursing research

☐ Topic 1: Define the following terms:

From our discussion about Theory and Theoretical Framework, it is defined as an integrated set
of concepts and statements that present a view of a phenomenon and can be used to describe, explain,
predict, and control that phenomenon (Burns & Grove, 2013)

As classically defined, theories consist of concepts and a set of propositions that form a
logically interrelated system, providing a mechanism for deducing hypotheses from the original
propositions. Theory are developed from choices of assumptions about the nature of what a particular
theorist believes about nursing, what the basis of nursing knowledge is and what nurses do or practice
in the real world of Nursing.

According to Burns & Groves (2013) the elements of the theory are concepts, defining
concepts, relational statements, map or model.
1. Concepts – abstractly describes and names an object, idea, or phenomenon, thus
providing it with a separate identity or meaning. This is the basic element of a
theory. (Burns & Groves,2013; Polit & Beck , 2014)

2. Conceptual Definitions – Each concept in a theory needs to be defined, and each

definition must be conveyed in the definition developed by the theorist.
Conceptual definitions or the definition of a concept must be clearly identified and
defined to provide a stronger basis for a study framework, or may be clarified
through the conduct of further research to verify variables. (Burns & Groves,
2013; Polit & Beck, 2014)

A conceptual definition are definition that provides a variable or concept with

connotative (abstract, comprehensive, theoretical) meaning; established through
concept analysis, concept derivation or concept synthesis.

It is connotative, meaning, it requires thoughtful exploration of the connotative

meanings that the terms have within nursing and a clear statement of their meanings
within a particular theory or study.

In quantitative studies, each variable in the study must be associated with a concept,
a conceptual definition and a method of measurement or operational definitions.

3. Framework – is an abstract, logical structure of meaning, such as portion of a theory, which guides the
development of the study and enables the researcher to link the findings to nursing’s body of knowledge (Burns
& Grove, 2013).
 Framework is the conceptual underpinning of a study. Not every study is based on a
theory or conceptual model, but every study has a framework.

A study’s framework is often implicit (i.e., not formally acknowledged or described).

World views shape how concepts are defined, but researchers often fail to clarify the
conceptual foundations of their variables. Researchers who clarify conceptual
definitions of key variables provide important information about the study’s framework
(Polit & Beck, 2014).

Paradigm – a visual representation of the study conceptual framework. The

paradigm depicting in an illustration the variables included in the research and the
interrelationships among and between the variables of the study.

Topic 2: Review the meaning of theoretical elements: construct, concept and variable, and their link
as theoretical elements.

a. Construct are concepts that are in a very high levels of abstraction that have general
meanings.

Abstract – is defined as expressed without reference to any specific instance.

Example of constructs: Environmental stimuli, psychological response, Illness

management
b. Concepts – abstractly describes and names an object, idea, or phenomenon, thus
providing it with a separate identity or meaning. This is the basic element of a
theory. (Burns & Groves, 2013; Polit & Beck, 2014)

Example of concepts: focal stimuli, contextual stimuli, residual stimuli,

psychological adaptation, self-management

c. Variables - are qualities, properties, characteristics of persons, things, or situations

that change or vary and are manipulated or measured in research (Burns and Grove,
2013).

Example of variable: degree of disability, length of illness, diagnosis, acceptance,

stress, depression, loneliness, self-efficacy

Now, given the following examples above let us work on how to link these theoretical elements with
one another so that we can see how the elements are linked together to understand the phenomenon being
studied and to define the concepts clearly by illustrating their level of abstraction.

Research Example: Study Framework

Class, I instructed you to search and read in advance the journal article authored by DiNapoli, P.P.
(2009). Early initiation of tobacco use in adolescent girls: key to sociocultural influences . Applied Nursing
Research, 22 (2), pp. 127-128.
This study investigated on what modifiable variables will decrease the risk of initiating cigarette
smoking before the age of 12 years old among adolescent girls. The theoretical framework used in the context
of this study is the holistic view of the youth development (Brofenbrenner, 1978) named as the Ecological
Model of Youth Development which theorizes that a complex interaction between individual and contextual
factors such as community, peers, family and media influences health behavior choice. This study model
included relevant concepts examined in the study, but not all concepts were examined.

Study and understand the Study Framework of this research studies in the book of Burns &
Grove by reading the Research Study Framework depicting Sociological Model of Health Behavior.
Figure 7-4. p. 238 – 239,

Table 1. Study Variables in the Study Framework of DiNapoli (2009) Ecological Model of Youth
Development
Ecological Level [Construct] Variables
 Youth [Concept] Emotional well-bring
Social responsibility
Perceived risk for Substance use
Self-esteem
Self-efficacy – school success

Family [concept] Parenting style

Parental values and attitudes
Family conflict
Parental monitoring

School [concept] School connectedness

School performance

Community [concept] Neighboring support

Neighboring monitoring

Topic 3: Identify different approaches on how to develop a concept framework or conceptual

model in a research studies.

Related Student Activity: Supplemental Videos for students to watch: Total 20 minutes.

1. What is a conceptual Framework? Students are to watch a video with 5:36 minutes using the
Youtube link at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWO9pRzeQO4

2. How to write conceptual framework? Students are to watch a video with a 4:01 minutes using
this youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_IjVmDnpo

3. Designing the conceptual / research paradigm. Students to watch a video with

12:00 minutes using you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq0KgB_f3K4
G.M Lectures posted October 4, 2020 at youtube Developing Conceptual Model: Cristobal &
Cristobal (2017), Practical research2, South Triangle, Quezon City, C & E Publishing.

A. What is a conceptual framework?

B. What are the common designs for a conceptual / research paradigm in a study?
B. How to write and formulate the conceptual paradigm?
Summary of related lecture obtained from video:

Topic 4: Understand how to write and appraise a conceptual framework for use in a Nursing
research study.

A. Developing the Conceptual Framework

Here are some strategies to develop of an effective conceptual framework:

1. Examine your thesis title and research problem. The research problem anchors your entire study and
forms the basis from which you construct your conceptual framework.
2. Brainstorm on what you consider to be the key concepts in your research. Answer the question, what
specific descriptions of the concepts can you write to deduce the level of abstractions in the concept,
or to define clearly the concepts?
3. What factors contribute to the presumed effect (concept) or what measurements or categories can you
apply or use to define clearly the concept/s in your study? Provide both conceptual and operational
definition of the concept. Operational definitions are definition of how variables or concepts will be
measured or manipulated in a study.
4. Search and review related literature to find answers to your research question. Use your concept as the
 key word for you search.
5. List the constructs and variables that might be relevant or related to your study concepts. Group these
concepts into independent and dependent by listing the specific variable categories associated or
included to support or operationally define the concept, as it is to be used in your research and not
based on definitions provided in the dictionary

Topic 5: Describe how the conceptual model can be utilized in guiding a Nursing research study.

What are conceptual framework, its purposes and how it is can be utilized in a research study.

Related supplemental electronic resources for student activity for this topic:

Students are instructed to watch a video with a 4:01 minutes using this youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_IjVmDnpo

Students are to watch a video with 5:36 minutes using the youtube link at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWO9pRzeQO4

Important notes: All videos are linked to the Youtube account in our Google Classroom NURS 12
POST-TEST / POST - ACTIVITY
Post Student Activity:

☐ Considering the top one priority research questions you / your group have listed as your possible research
problems, write or design your own group’s conceptual framework for your prospect study. Choose
among the different paradigm mentioned in the lecture which you think is applicable for your proposed
study/ies.
☐ Submit your output as a.) Conceptual / Research Framework and b.) Discussion in narrative format how
you develop your research framework minimum of 200 words Arial font 12. ☐ Submit output on December
16, 2022 at 11:59 PM and upload in Google Classroom NURS 12 BSN 3- 3 or Google Classroom NURS 12
BSN 3-4.

COURSE MATERIALS/ READINGS/ REFERENCES

Books:

Burns, N., Grove , S. K., 2013, Burns and Grove’s Understanding Nursing Research Building an Evidence-Based
Practice., Adapted Philippine Edition, Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Cristobal & Cristobal (2017), Practical Research 2, South Triangle, Quezon City, C & E Publishing.

Maltby, J., Williams, G., McGarry, J. Day, L. 2010, Research Methods for Nursing and Healthcare, Pearson Education
Limited, England, ISBN 978-273-71850-5.

Polit, D. F., Beck C. T., 2010, Nursing Research Generating and Assessing Evidence 7th Edition, Copyright © 2010 Wolters
Kluwer Health ǀ Lippincott Williams & Wilkin.

Salustiano, Rosalinda P., 2009, Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences, Teaching & Learning Research Made Easy
1st Edition, C & E Publishing, Inc.

Electronic sources:

G.M. Lectures, October 4, 2020. Developing Conceptual Model, Cristobal & Cristobal (2017), Practical
Research 2, South Triangle, Quezon City, C & E Publishing.

What is a conceptual Framework? Students are to watch a video with 5:36 minutes using the Youtube link at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWO9pRzeQO4

How to write conceptual framework? Students are to watch a video with a 4:01 minutes using this youtube
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_IjVmDnpo

Designing the conceptual / research paradigm. Students to watch a video with 12:00 minutes using
you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq0KgB_f3K4
G.M Lectures posted October 4, 2020 at youtube Developing Conceptual Model: Cristobal &
Cristobal (2017), Practical research2, South Triangle, Quezon City, C & E Publishing.