Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Introduction
The theoretical and conceptual framework explains the path of research and grounds
it firmly in theoretical constructs. The overall aim of the two frameworks is to make
research findings more meaningful, and acceptable to the theoretical constructs in
the research field and ensures generalizability. They assist in stimulating research
while ensuring the extension of knowledge by providing both direction and impetus
to the research inquiry. A research without a theoretical or conceptual framework
makes it difficult for readers in ascertaining the academic position and the
underlying factors of the researcher’s assertions and/or hypotheses. This renders
the research sloppy and not appreciable as contributing significantly to the
advancement of the frontiers of knowledge.

Theoretical Framework

What is a Theoretical Framework?

It is the ‘blueprint’ or guide for a research (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). It is a framework
based on an existing theory in a field of inquiry that is related and/or reflects the
hypothesis of a study. It is a blueprint that is often ‘borrowed’ by the researcher to
build his/her own house or research inquiry. It serves as the foundation upon which
a research is constructed. Likewise, the theoretical framework guides the researcher
so that s/he would not deviate from the confines of the accepted theories to make
his/her final contribution scholarly and academic. Thus, Brondizio, Leemans, and
Solecki (2014) concur that the theoretical framework is the specific theory or theories
about aspects of human endeavor that can be useful to the study of events. The
theoretical framework consists of theoretical principles, constructs, concepts, and
tenants of a theory (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). The student must tactfully select the
relevant theory or theories that underpin the knowledge base of the phenomenon to
be investigated. The student is expected to make a unique application of the selected
theory so as to apply the theoretical constructs to his/her study.

The Importance of Theoretical Framework in Research

The theoretical framework offers several benefits to research work. It provides the
structure in showing how a researcher defines his/her study philosophically,
epistemologically, methodology and analytically (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Ravitch
and Carl (2016) concur that the theoretical framework assist researchers in situating
and contextualizing formal theories into their studies as a guide. The theoretical
framework, thus, aids the researcher in finding an appropriate research approach,
analytical tools and procedures for his/her research inquiry. It makes research
findings more meaningful and generalizable (Akintoye, 2015). Imenda (2014) clearly
posits that research without the theoretical framework lacks accurate direction in
the search for appropriate literature and scholarly discussions of the findings from
the research. For other scholars in the field of inquiry, the theoretical framework
provides a common worldview or lens from which to support one’s thinking about
the problem and analysis of data (Grant & Osanloo, 2014).

The theoretical framework guides and should resonate with every aspect of the
research process from the definition of the problem, literature survey, methodology,
presentation and discussion of the findings as well as the conclusions that are
drawn. Eisenhart (1991) contends that the theoretical framework helps the
researcher in considering alternative theories that might challenge his or her
perspective, thereby enriching the strengths of the study. Simon and Goes (2011) as
well as Maxwell (2004) aver that theoretical frameworks deepen the essence of the
study.

How to Select a Suitable Theoretical Framework

There is no one perfect or right theory for research, though certain theories are
popular (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Yet, the adoption or adaptation of a theory must
reflect the understanding of the researcher regarding the study and must drive the
study (Simon & Goes, 2011). The selection of a theoretical framework requires a
thorough understanding of the problem, purpose, significance and research
questions of a study. This is important because when the selection is poorly done, it
would be as if the researcher is using a wrong bolt to forcibly fix a wrong nut. The
chosen theoretical framework must accentuate the purpose and importance of the
study (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). To make an appropriate selection of a theoretical
context, the researcher must consider the guiding principles of the study and situate
the problem in relation to it. The research questions of the study and the purpose of
the study must entail noticeable aspects of the theoretical framework and must agree
with the assertions promulgated by the theorists of the selected theory (Maxwell,
2004; LoBiondo-Wood, 2010). . Grant and Osanloo (2014) present a checklist that
can aid researchers to be able to identify the suitable theoretical framework for their
research inquiry.

1. What discipline will the theory be applied to?

2. Does the theory agree with the methodology plan for the study?
3. Is the theory to be selected well developed with many theoretical constructs?
4. Have specific concepts or theoretical principles been selected to meet the objectives
of the study?
5. Does the problem of the study, the purpose and importance of the study correlate
with the theoretical framework?
6. Can the theory be used hand in hand with the research questions for the study?
7. Does the theoretical framework inform the literature review?
8. Does the data analysis plan agree with the selected theoretical framework?
9. Does the theoretical framework undergird the conclusions and recommendations
based on the data analysis?
Example of Theoretical Framework
The selection of a theory depends on the discipline or field of research. Even within
a particular discipline, a specific theory or theories that resonate with the area of
inquiry must be selected. The authors illustrate this with an example of a study in
Cultural Anthropology. A student is undertaking a research into how the cultures of
a group of people influence their attitudes towards the environment. In such a
scenario, there are various theories in the field of study that agrees with the problem
for investigation. These include the Human Environment Relations Theory, The
Culture Theory, The Cultural Ecology Theory, Historical Ecology Theory,
Environmental Determinism Theory, Culture Determinism Theory and so forth.
Though these theories all postulate that people and their cultures have a relation
with the environment, their internal workings and approach to the subject differs.
Therefore, it is the student/researcher who has to read and deepen his/her
understanding of the theories, including the exponents, historical background
information of the theory, its exponents, its theoretical constructs, and assumptions
of its proponents, the strengths and weaknesses before s/he can make an
appropriate selection in line with the problem and research questions laid out for the
study.

Fig. 1: The Theoretical Framework Cultural Ecology

Source: Adopted from Steward (1968)
 Conceptual Framework

What is a Conceptual Framework?

A conceptual framework is a structure which the researcher believes can best explain
the natural progression of the phenomenon to be studied (Camp, 2001). It is linked
with the concepts, empirical research and important theories used in promoting and
systemizing the knowledge espoused by the researcher (Peshkin, 1993). It is the
researcher’s explanation of how the research problem would be explored. The
conceptual framework presents an integrated way of looking at a problem under
study (Liehr & Smith, 1999). In a statistical perspective, the conceptual framework
describes the relationship between the main concepts of a study. It is arranged in a
logical structure to aid provide a picture or visual display of how ideas in a study
relate to one another (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Interestingly, it shows the series of
action the researcher intends carrying out in a research study (Dixon, Gulliver &
Gibbon, 2001). The framework makes it easier for the researcher to easily specify
and define the concepts within the problem of the study (Luse, Mennecke &
Townsend, 2012). Miles and Huberman (1994, p.18) opine that conceptual
frameworks can be ‘graphical or in a narrative form showing the key variables or
constructs to be studied and the presumed relationships between them.’

The Importance of Conceptual Framework in Research

The conceptual framework offers many benefits to a research. For instance, it assists
the researcher in identifying and constructing his/her worldview on the phenomenon
to be investigated (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). It is the simplest way through which a
researcher presents his/her asserted remedies to the problem s/he has defined
(Liehr & Smith, 1999; Akintoye, 2015). It accentuates the reasons why a research
topic is worth studying, the assumptions of a researcher, the scholars s/he agrees
with and disagrees with and how s/he conceptually grounds his/her approach
(Evans, 2007). Akintoye (2015) posits that the conceptual framework is mostly used
by researchers when existing theories are not applicable or sufficient in creating a
firm structure for the study.

How to Construct a Conceptual Framework

Conceptual frameworks are always constructed by researchers (Polit & Tatano,
2004). Ravich and Carl (2016) aver that conceptual frameworks are generative
frameworks that reflects the thinking of the entire research process. Mostly,
diagrams are created to clearly define the constructs or variables of the research
topic and their relationships are shown by the use of arrows. Latham (2017) argues
that the entire methodology must agree with the variables, as well as their
relationships and context. Researchers are at liberty to adopt existing frameworks
but have to modify it to suit the nature of the context of their research as well as the
nature of their research questions (Fisher, 2007). Fisher adds that a good conceptual
framework must also be expressed in writing for it to be understood clearly. This
means that after a researcher has craftily produced a diagrammatic representation
of the main variables of the study, s/he has to explain the relations among them and
how their complementation helps in answering the major research problem defined.

Difference between a Conceptual Framework and a Theoretical Framework

Theoretical Framework Conceptual Framework
It provides a general or broader set of It refers to specific or narrower ideas a
ideas within which a study belongs. researcher utilizes in his/her study
It is based on existing theory/theories in It is based on the concepts which are the
the literature which has been tested and main variables in a study.
validated by other scholars.
It is in the form of a model that pivots a It is a researcher's own constructed
study, with its exponents and the model that s/he uses to explain the
results of their studies. relationship that exists between the
main variables in his/her study. It can
also be an adaptation of a model in an
existing theory which a researcher
adapts to suit his/her research
purpose.
It is well developed, designed and Its design is not accepted, but it's a
accepted. proposal of the researcher's answer to
the research problem s/he has defined.
It offers a focal point for approaching the It is the framework that shows logically
unknown research in a specific field of how the research inquiry is to be
inquiry. undertaken.
It consists of theories that seem It consists of concepts interconnected to
interrelated with their propositions explain the relationships between them
deduced. and how the researcher asserts to
answer the research problem defined.
It is used to test theories, to predict and It is aimed at encouraging the
control the situations within the context development of a theory that would be
of a research inquiry useful to practitioners in the field.
Examples of Conceptual Framework
There are many designs of the conceptual framework that researchers have designed
and utilized in their studies. These are two simple conceptual framework designs
from two studies, namely a research on child literacy (Figure 2) and a study on the
research procedural steps (Figure 3).

Figure 2:Conceptual Framework on Child Literacy Research

Source: Adopted from http:// www. monash. edu.au/lls /hdr/ design/2.2.1.html

Figure 3: Conceptual Framework on the Research Procedural Steps

Source: Adopted from https://www.slideshare.net/jhim1022/reviewof-literature-
hypothesis-and-conceptual-framework-65848341 (Accessed 10/8/2017)

Reference: (Adopted)
Adom, D., Hussein, E., & Adu-Agyem, J. (2018). Theoretical and Conceptual
Framework: Mandatory Ingredients of a Quality Research. International
Journal of Scientific Research 7(1):438-441.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322204158_THEORETICAL_AND
_CONCEPTUAL_FRAMEWORK_MANDATORY_INGREDIENTS_OF_A_QUALIT
Y_RESEARCH