What Is Conceptual Framework in Research? Steps and Example

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Let us guess! You are stuck on your paper. You have decided on the topic but do not know how to conduct your research process. That is where the frameworks come into play. They help in the research problems and objectives and develop causal relationships between variables. Moreover, frameworks use various concepts, guidelines, and principles to direct the research process. Furthermore, they are of many types, serving different purposes. But the most important one is the conceptual framework, which is used in almost all research papers. So, if you do not know what it is, this blog is a blessing in disguise for you. As it contains its meaning, how to develop it, and an example to further enhance your understanding. 

So, without wasting any time further, let’s start with what is conceptual framework art.

Conceptual Framework: Meaning, Importance, and Types

If we have to define conceptual framework it would be a technique that helps us to understand the research problem, set objectives, identify variables, establish relations between them, and analyze them. Furthermore, it was first used by Alfred North Whiteboard in 1930 to conduct his research. The main objective of it is to establish a causal relationship between different variables. It means how change in one variable will lead to change in another, and this whole process is illustrated by using the conceptual framework.  But if it sound complex, you can get expert aid to make your research paper and do not have to take any tension by searching for assignment help. Now, you know, what is conceptual framework, let’s quickly understand its importance and types.

Importance of Conceptual Framework in Research

The importance of conceptual framework cannot be undermined, irrespective of the study field you are researching.

1. Clarifying the context of the study.
2. Stating the importance of the reader.
3. Understanding the research problem.
4. Illustrating relationships between different variables.
5. Deciding the research methodologies to be used.

Types of Conceptual Framework in Research

Now, let’s understand the types of conceptual frameworks to enhance your understanding.

• Written:Textual representation of the relationship between variables.

• Visual:Diagrammatic representation of the causal relationship of variables.

• Taxonomic- Verbally describing the relation between classes, and each contains phenomenon (variables).

• Mathematical- Expression of the phenomenon in the form of mathematical equations.

So, this is all about what is conceptual framework in research and its importance and types. Now, you will learn about developing the conceptual framework.

Developing a Conceptual Framework In Research

Now that you have understood its meaning, importance, and types. It is the time to learn to develop the conceptual framework in research. But even after following these steps, your work is still not finished, as you have to check your paper if it contains any copied content. So, you can use our plagiarism checker online to identify and remove the copied part.

Step 1: Choose Your Research Question

The research question is what gives you direction to conduct your research. It tells you what you need to find. You may have to investigate it through a survey.  It is best to follow the below steps to frame your research question for your conceptual framework.

1. Choose a topic of your interest
2. Conduct its background research
3. Narrow down the focus
4. Define your goals for research
5. Now frame a question as per your goal
6. Make it specific and answerable

Step 2: Select Your Dependant and Independent Variables

You at least need to define two variables to understand a causal relationship between them. One is independent, and another is a dependent variable. Moreover, there can be more than one independent variable that affects the value of the dependent one. You will learn more by reading the below definitions and examples.

• Independent Variable: It means factors whose value is not dependent on any other value. Also known as predictor or explanatory variable. For instance: “hours of study” is an independent variable.

• Dependent Variable: It is that variable whose value is directly or inversely related to the value of any other one. Its other name is response or outcome variable. Its example is “Exam Score” for the conceptual framework in research.

Step 3: Visualise Your Causal Relationship

Now, it is the time to establish a causal relationship between the variables to develop the conceptual framework. It means defining how one variable is the cause of another one (dependant), which is the effect.

• For more understanding, read the table given below.

Step 4: Identifying Other Influencing Variables

It is essential to figure out other factors influencing the dependent variable. You do this to make your conceptual framework more useful for generating better insights for your paper, so read the ones given below. If you are studying management, learning a conceptual accounting framework can help your work.

Read the below variable types to include in your conceptual framework.

• Moderating: Variable that can change the effect of the independent variable on the dependent one. It is not affected by the independent variable, like IQ.

• Mediating: It also affects the dependent variable but positively and is not affected by the independent variable, like the number of questions practiced.

• Control: These variables are kept constant throughout, as we do not want to measure how they affected the result (dependent variable), like student health.

• Confounding: An unmeasured variable related to both the independent and dependent variables.

So, these are the four steps to help you develop your conceptual framework. But if you still do not understand how to make it, read the next section to get an idea about its development.

Example of a Good Conceptual Framework

If you still do not understand how to frame the conceptual framework, it is best to read this example. Going through it will give you an idea of how to frame the content of your writing. So, start by writing the research topic.

“How the time you spend in studying directly correlates with your exam scores”

The objective of this research is to find out how the time a student spends studying is directly correlated with the scores one gets in their exams. So, here independent variable is the time given by the student, and the dependent one is the scores. As they are directly affected by the time given, their value is dependent on some other factor. Moreover, in the research, it was found that there are positive relations between them, as the more time you give, the more syllabus you will cover, thus you will answer more questions correctly. Furthermore, there is another controlling variable, which is the health of the student. It can affect the exam score as bad health means you cannot prepare effectively and take exams in the best manner. However, it is not included in the research, as these are controlled, and their effects are excluded.

So, this is all you need to understand about the conceptual framework to use in your research. Moreover, if you are still not able to get how to make it, you can get help from experts by reading the next section.

Still Facing Issues in Conceptual Framework? Let Us Help

So, this is the whole blog that covers the meaning of conceptual framework and how to make it. Moreover, the example of it added to enhance your understanding. If you have read this article, you will be excellent at developing the conceptual framework because everything you need to know about it is covered. Moreover, if the below steps are difficult for you to understand. You can search for Global Assignment Help Australia to get expert aid for making your research paper using a conceptual framework. The professionals will help you do your work in the best way without any errors.

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