Reviewer: Practical Research 2

 Researchers should be knowledgeable with the development of their concepts. They also need to be familiar
with the issues with the problem statement of their research. Researchers must also be able to identify what
type of conceptual framework did they use, and they need to be familiar with their variables.

Questions to ponder on:

a. Do you know everything about your PR2 study proposal? How did you develop your concepts?
b. What will your research mean to you as a researcher and a student?
c. Which conceptual framework was applied in your study? Which variables are independent and dependent?
d. How can you describe your research problem statements? Can you identify one?
e. What techniques did you use to gather information for your study?

 Types of Conceptual Framework

a. Taxonomy: This is a verbal description which categorises phenomena into classes. Relationships are evident
inasmuch as those items within a class are alike; but the relationships among the classes are either weak or
nonexistent. This type of conceptual framework doesn’t show relationships between classes. The scope of the
phenomena described may be narrow, but it is often broad. Evidence for the phenomena may be a result of
direct experience, or developed from, logical reasoning, or developed empirically. Thus the source may be
described as lacking rigor from a scientific viewpoint. Examples of taxonomies would include Barrett's
(1968) Taxonomy of Comprehension, the descriptions of the reading process of. Fries (1962) or Lefevre
(1964), and the lists of reading objectives often found in curriculum guides and basal reader guidebooks.

b. Visual Representation: This type of conceptual framework provides a picture of the phenomena, it shows
that relationships between classes exist without showing the extent of the relationship. Relationships are
shown between classes, whereas in the taxonomy no such relationships are usually made. The phenomena
presented may be as broad as the total reading situation or as narrow as a single grapheme-phoneme
correspondence (GPC). The evidence must be at least logical and may have empirical support. It may come
from authority opinion or research. From a scientific viewpoint evidence may or may not be rigorous.
Examples of visual representations include the work of Gray (1960) and Robinson (1966) illustrating the
major aspects of reading; the Goodman (1970) diagram of the reading process; and the work of Smith and
Carrigan (1959).
 c. Mathematical Description: This is a type of conceptual framework in which the phenomena can be
expressed in some type of mathematical equation, although verbal description and pictorial representation are
also possible. The relationships between phenomena are quantified with specific weights given to each; which
clearly differentiates this type of conceptual framework from the visual representation which only shows that
a relationship exists, but not the degree; and the taxonomy which may not show any relationship between the
classes presented. The phenomena represented can probably be described as narrow in respect to reading; but
this may change.

In this type, empirical evidence from research is required; but logical explanation may not be required since such
frameworks may only represent what is, rather than why. Mathematical descriptions tend to be narrow in scope
because only evidence that can be empirically gathered is included. An example of this type of conceptual
framework is the work of Holmes (1960, 1965) and Singer (1965).

 Before creating the literature review, a conceptual framework must be constructed.

 Steps in Constructing a Conceptual Framework

a. Choose the topic.

b. Choose the title.
c. Isolate the key concepts/or constructs in the title
d. Generate the conceptual framework
e. Do a literature review and identify related concepts and variables

 A variable refers to measurable characteristics of anything that change the numerical or categorical value. An
independent variable is the ‘assumed cause’ of the problem, that affects or influences other variables. A
dependent variable is the ‘assumed effect’ which is affected or influenced by the other variables.

 Steps in Conducting a Literature Review

a. Define a topic.
b. List down all-important variables and write your research questions you want to study.
c. Find relevant source materials
d. Know how to write citation and editorial style formats for bibliographical purposes.
 e. Cite, compare, contrast, critique, connect and synthesize the literature

 A literature review broadly refers to support on their research that can be obtained from different types of
materials like primary and secondary sources of information. These techniques in extracting reliable for
researchers’ studies are crucial. Researchers should review literature on a particular topic to investigate
published written materials.