Conceptual Framework: A Step by Step

Guide on How to Make One

January 5, 2015 Regoniel, Patrick A. Leave a comment

What is a conceptual framework? How do you prepare one? This article defines the meaning of
conceptual framework and lists the steps on how to prepare it. A simplified example is added to
strengthen the reader’s understanding.

In the course of preparing your research paper as one of the requirements for your course as an
undergraduate or graduate student, you will need to write the conceptual framework of your
study. The conceptual framework steers the whole research activity. The conceptual framework
serves as a “map” or “rudder” that will guide you towards realizing the objectives or intent of
your study.

What then is a conceptual framework in the context of empirical research? The next section
defines and explains the term.

Definition of Conceptual Framework

A conceptual framework represents the researcher’s synthesis of literature on how to explain a

phenomenon. It maps out the actions required in the course of the study given his previous
knowledge of other researchers’ point of view and his observations on the subject of research.

In other words, the conceptual framework is the researcher’s understanding of how the particular
variables in his study connect with each other. Thus, it identifies the variables required in the
research investigation. It is the researcher’s “map” in pursuing the investigation.

As McGaghie et al. (2001) put it: The conceptual framework “sets the stage” for the presentation
of the particular research question that drives the investigation being reported based on the
problem statement. The problem statement of a thesis presents the context and the issues that
caused the researcher to conduct the study.

The conceptual framework lies within a much broader framework called theoretical framework.
The latter draws support from time-tested theories that embody the findings of many researchers
on why and how a particular phenomenon occurs.

Step by Step Guide on How to Make the Conceptual Framework

Before you prepare your conceptual framework, you need to do the following things:
 1. Choose your topic. Decide on what will be your research topic. The topic should be
within your field of specialization.
2. Do a literature review. Review relevant and updated research on the theme that you
decide to work on after scrutiny of the issue at hand. Preferably use peer-reviewed and
well-known scientific journals as these are reliable sources of information.
3. Isolate the important variables. Identify the specific variables described in the literature
and figure out how these are related. Some abstracts contain the variables and the salient
findings thus may serve the purpose. If these are not available, find the research paper’s
summary. If the variables are not explicit in the summary, get back to the methodology or
the results and discussion section and quickly identify the variables of the study and the
significant findings. Read the TSPU Technique on how to skim efficiently articles and
get to the important points without much fuss.
4. Generate the conceptual framework. Build your conceptual framework using your mix
of the variables from the scientific articles you have read. Your problem statement serves
as a reference in constructing the conceptual framework. In effect, your study will
attempt to answer a question that other researchers have not explained yet. Your research
should address a knowledge gap.

Example of a Conceptual Framework

Statement number 5 introduced in an earlier post titled How to Write a Thesis Statement will
serve as the basis of the illustrated conceptual framework in the following examples.

Thesis statement: Chronic exposure to blue light from LED screens (of computer monitors and
television) deplete melatonin levels thus reduce the number of sleeping hours among middle-
aged adults.

The study claims that blue light from the light emitting diodes (LED) inhibit the production of
melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wake cycles. Those affected experience insomnia;
they sleep less than required (usually less than six hours), and this happens when they spend too
much time working on their laptops or viewing the television at night.

Fig. 1 The research paradigm illustrating the researcher’s conceptual

framework.

Notice that the variables of the study are explicit in the paradigm presented in Figure 1. In the
illustration, the two variables are 1) number of hours devoted in front of the computer, and 2)
number of hours slept at night. The former is the independent variable while the latter is the
dependent variable. Both of these variables are easy to measure. It is just counting the number of
hours spent in front of the computer and the number of hours slept by the subjects of the study.

Assuming that other things are constant during the performance of the study, it will be possible
to relate these two variables and confirm that indeed, blue light emanated from computer screens
can affect one’s sleeping patterns. (Please read the article titled “Do you know that the computer
can disturb your sleeping patterns?” to find out more about this phenomenon) A correlation
analysis will show whether the relationship is significant or not.

e-Book on Conceptual Framework Development

Due to the popularity of this article, I wrote an e-Book designed to suit the needs of beginning
researchers. This e-Book answers the many questions and comments regarding the preparation of
the conceptual framework. I provide five practical examples based on existing literature to
demonstrate the procedure.

HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT

JANUARY 1, 2015 REGONIEL, PATRICK A. 7 COMMENTS

Once you have made observations, conferred with experts, discussed issues and
concerns with friends and read a great deal of literature on your chosen research topic,
you should be ready to write your thesis statement. But do you already understand well
enough the meaning of a thesis statement? Or are you one of those who find these two
words difficult to comprehend?

If the thesis statement concept is quite vague to you, then this should be defined clearly
first to foster understanding. Once this is done, then you can proceed to the process of
writing those statements. Thus, this article will define thesis statement then provide you
with detailed tips on how to write one. Examples are also given.

What is a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is essentially a synthesis of what you have read and observed
regarding the phenomenon that you are trying to explain. It is a statement that serves as
your anchor in advancing your argument about say, the causality of things. Among other
things, the thesis statement serves as the focus of your discussion.
The statement that you make is not just a random position but a well-thought one,
based on objective judgment and empirical evidence. Empirical means verifiable by
observation or experience. It is your “educated” point of view. It is your proposed
explanation of the phenomenon after a critical examination of evidence at hand. Are
there convincing evidences that can support your contention?

Based on the definition given above, it is therefore necessary that you read a great deal
of literature to understand how other people viewed, explored, tested and verified the
phenomenon that you are trying to understand. Reading a lot not only broadens your
horizon but also helps you pinpoint exactly the problem areas you need to address or
look into, in the process, narrowing down your research topic.

If someone wrote a review of literature on the subject, then that’s the ideal starting point.
A good thesis statement arises from how well you have familiarized yourself about the
research topic. You should aim towards becoming an authority in the research area you
have decided to focus on.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

Before you present your thesis statement, you should describe first the setting or
situation which served as basis or foundation of your statement. This is called
contextualization. You may refer to the article How to Write a Good Thesis Introduction
on details on how to do this. You should be able to present your thesis statement at the
end of the first paragraph of your exposition. State your point of view in a sentence or a
few sentences.
In the ensuing paragraphs, provide examples and existing evidences to support your
argument. Your research paper will supply the needed method or methodology to test
your point of view or thesis. Your conceptual framework will serve as your map in
conducting the investigation.

Examples of Thesis Statement

The following are examples of thesis statement in different fields of specialization.

1. Overfishing continues to occur due to a generally poor understanding

among fishers on the link between fishing intensity and the reproductive
capacity of target fishes.
2. Adolescents and young adults devoting at least six hours a day in front of
their computer screen become obese in their adult years.
3. Urban dwellers are better off using conventional over-the-counter drugs
than herbal remedies due to problems of accessibility.
4. Employees walking at least 30 minutes a day are able to accomplish their
tasks on time compared to their sedentary colleagues.
 5. Chronic exposure to blue light from LED screens (of computer monitors
and television) deplete melatonin levels thus reduce the number of
sleeping hours among middle aged adults.
Notice in the above examples that the specific variables of the study are described. This
defines the scope of the study and makes analysis easy, focused, and doable.

Further, the thesis statement is not carved in stone. While more information is

gathered along the way, the thesis statement may be revised or rewritten for

better treatise of the subject. This is where your thesis adviser’s suggestions,

assuming he or she has a better grasp of the subject, come in hand A

SAMPLE OF CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK WITH STATEMENT OF
THE PROBLEM
JANUARY 19, 2015 ALVIOR, M. G. 32 COMMENTS

This article shows how a conceptual framework, along with the corresponding statement
of the problem, is organized and written in a dissertation. Take a look at the example on
how it is done and try to make one for your paper. You may also use this in your thesis.

You may be thinking about too many theories to base your study on. However, a
conceptual framework in built on a theory that serves as the basis for your study. Once
you have decided which theory to adopt, try to figure it out if the phenomenon, with all
the associated variables in your study, can be best explained by that theory. The
example below illustrates how this works.

Example of a Conceptual Framework

This study zeroes in on the professional development activities for teachers by
espousing the idea that the classroom performance of teachers is a critical factor for
student academic performance. The researcher based her assumption from Weiner’s
Attribution Theory that external and internal factors can improve performance.

For example, students may attribute their academic performance to their teachers
(external factor) while the teachers may attribute their teaching performance to in-
service trainings (external factor) and perhaps, to their teaching efficacy, job
satisfaction, and attitude towards the teaching profession (internal factors). These
relationships are illustrated in Figure 1.
 Figure 1. Paradigm
showing the relationships among the variables in this study.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to provide baseline data on in-service training for English,
Mathematics, and Science Fourth Year High School teachers from School Year 2006 up
to 2010. Also, a professional development model for teachers is proposed.

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What are the most familiar in-service training activities among teachers? And what
are their insights about these activities as to: (a) applicability in the classroom, (b)
importance in the teaching profession, and (c) impact on student performance?

2. What feedback do teachers have of the in-service training programs attended in

terms of (a) perception, and (b) satisfaction?

3. What are the teachers’ level of teaching efficacy, job satisfaction, and attitude
towards the teaching profession?

4. What is the performance of the fourth year high school students in their Subject
Achievement Tests in three subject areas: English, Mathematics, and Science during
the first semester of SY 2010-2011?
5. Are the teachers’ perception and satisfaction regarding the in-service training
programs predictors of their levels of teaching efficacy, job satisfaction, and attitude
towards the teaching profession?

6. Are the teachers’ levels of teaching efficacy, job satisfaction, and attitude towards the
teaching profession predictors of their student performance in the Subject Achievement
Tests?

7. What enhanced professional development model for teachers can be developed on

the basis of the results of this study?

Now, you have learned how a theory is used, and how the questions in the statement of
the problem are formulated. Take note that the questions in the statement of the
problem are arranged according to the flow of conceptual framework. First, it has
questions on inventory of in-service training activities, followed by the feedback. The
next question is about teacher factors, then results of student performance. The last
question relates to the development of the enhanced professional development model.