Conceptual Framework

It can be defined as a ‘visual’ presentation

of key variables, factors or concepts and
their relationship among each other which
have been or have to be studied in the
research either graphically or in some other
narrative form (Miles and Huberman,
1994).
How to develop conceptual
framework?

There are several inputs which are essential

when working on a conceptual framework.
The two main elements are;
1. Experiential Knowledge: 
technical knowledge, research
background and personal
experience.
2. Literature Review:
related theory, related
 

research and other

theories and research
related to the topic.
The key steps for development of
conceptual framework are:
1. Identify the key
variables used in the
subject area of your study.
2. Draw out key variables within
something you have already
written about the subject area
i.e. literature review.
3. Take one key variable and
then brainstorm all the
possible things related to the
key variable.
4. After all the variables have been
defined, focus on number of
relationships they can form with
each other to determine the inter-
relationships between all.
It can be presented in the form of; flow
diagrams, tree diagrams, mind maps or
even shape based diagrams.
TIPS
1. Typically, bringing together concepts from various existing theories is generally associated
with theory building, rather than theory testing. Basically, a conceptual framework explains
narratively and/or graphically the main concepts and the hypothesised or proposed
relationship among such concepts. 
2. n a quantitative study, you really want to get down to variables because you want to measure
things and do some quantitative work with them.
3.  quantitative conceptual framework assists our understanding of the causal or correlational
patterns of interconnections across ideas, observations, concepts and other parts of
experience. Basically, it is about how reality works. This allows you to make predictions about
how A is related to B.
4. In developing a conceptual framework, you should do a good critical literature review.
Normally, there are three main parts of critical literature review including: ‘related theory’ (i.e.
concepts and/or relationships that are used to characterise the world), ‘related research’ (i.e.
how other researchers have tackled similar problems) and ‘other theory’ (i.e. lines of research
and theory that not directly relevant used). 
5. You should look at existing conceptual frameworks, however you should provide extra
information to your readers about why your developed framework fits well in your study. 
6. You develop your conceptual framework because existing theory is insufficient for your
study. 
7. Developing a conceptual framework takes time and a number of iterations.
8. Normally, there are two main types of conceptual framework. Based on the nature of study,
you may set out the stages through which an action moves from beginning to conclusion
(i.e. answering the how question) or you can set out the variables and possible relationships
between them in order to answer the why question.
9. here are two main potential limitations of any given conceptual framework. Your framework
can be influenced by the experience and knowledge of the individual (i.e. initial bias). Your
developed conceptual framework may result in some concepts being given prominence and
others being ignored (i.e. ongoing bias). 
10. The overall purpose of developing conceptual framework is to make research findings
meaningful and generalisable. 
IPO MODEL
Independent – dependent variavvle
Marketing research
Several types of conceptual frameworks have been
identified and line up with a research purpose in the
following ways:
Working hypothesis – Exploration or Exploratory research

In the field of public administration working hypotheses are used as a conceptual framework for

exploratory, applied, empirical research 
Pillar Questions - Exploration or Exploratory research
Descriptive categories – Description or Descriptive research
Practical ideal type – Analysis (Gauging)
Models of operations research – Decision making
Formal hypothesis – Explanation and Prediction