theoretical and conceptual framework

BY: MAYET AGUSTIN-TEANO, Ph.D.

THEORETICAL and CONCEPTUAL

FRAMEWORK

8/19/20121 profmayet

Click to edit Master title styleOverview

When travelling in an unfamiliar destination, a road map

would definitely be useful.

In doing research, you need to devise a road map that will

lead you in answering your research objectives/questions.

Relevant theories provide road map on how you will go

about studying your research topic.

Theories provide knowledge base/foundation/rationale for

conducting research.


Click to edit Master title styleWhat are theories?

Theories are constructed in order to explain, predict

and master phenomena (e.g. relationships, events,

or the behavior).

A theory makes generalizations about observations

and consists of an interrelated, coherent set of ideas

and models.


Click to edit Master title styleWhat are theories?

Generally, a theory is a broad statement of interplay among

variables.

Examples are theories on:

Job satisfaction

Learning

Intelligence

Leadership

Theories explain the relationship among variables

involved in each construct.


Click to edit Master title styleTheoretical Framework

The theoretical framework of the study presents

the theory which explains why the problem under

study exists.

Thus, the theoretical framework is but a theory that

serves as a basis for conducting research.


Click to edit Master title stylePurpose of theoretical framework

• It helps the researcher see clearly the variables of

the study.

• It can provide him with a general framework for

data analysis.

• It is essential in preparing a research proposal

using descriptive and experimental methods.


Click to edit Master title styleConceptual framework

Theories are sometimes too broad to test, hence

you may draw your conceptual framework.

TheoryConcept


Click to edit Master title styleConceptual framework

After formulating the theoretical framework, the researcher has to develop the conceptual framework of the study.

A concept is an image or symbolic representation of an abstract idea. Chinn and Kramer (1999) define a concept as a “complex mental formulation of experience”.

While the theoretical framework is the theory on which the study is based, the conceptual framework is the contextualization of the theory.


Click to edit Master title stylePurposes of both frameworks

They lead to formulation of hypotheses

They serve as basis for evaluation of a theory

They justify the research study.

Provide system for achieving creative solutions to

the problem.


Click to edit Master title styleResearch paradigm

The conceptual/theoretical frameworks are

presented visually through research paradigm.

The research paradigm shows the variables

included in the study and the type of relationships

tested .


Click to edit Master title styleCommonly Used Paradigm

Input Process Output


Click to edit Master title style

Independent variables

Dependent variables


Click to edit Master title styleDeveloping Theoretical Framework

By answering the following questions, you can begin to develop a loosely structured framework ( Slevin and Basford,1999) What do I know about the phenomenon that I want to study?

What types of knowledge are available to me (empirical, non-empirical, tacit, intuitive, moral or ethical)?

What theory will best guide me in studying such phenomenon?

Is this theory proven through theory-linked research? What other theories are relevant to such phenomenon?

How can I apply these theories in my present study?


Click to edit Master title styleHow do you find answers to those questions?

Review literature.

You will come across with voluminous data. Your main

problem is:

HOW YOU CAN BRING THESE DATA TOGETHER

TO FORM MEANINGFUL AND SCIENTIFIC

INFORMATION .


Click to edit Master title styleOrganizing the data into meaningful information?

Guided by theories, identify all the possible

variables/attributes relevant to the phenomenon

under study.

Determine relationships among these variables as

provided by different theories.

Relate this to your present study. Explain how these

theories will guide you in conducting your current

study.


Click to edit Master title styleDoing it step by step

Identifying the variables

Concrete objects can be visualized mentally. In

research, we will come across with ideas that are not so

clearly conceived. It is a challenge to visualize:

Job satisfaction

Depression

Research productivity constructs

Emotional intelligence

Organizational climate


Click to edit Master title styleResearch Construct

After finding theories, you will identify the research

constructs (building blocks of theories).

Example: Research productivity

Models of research productivity claimed that productivity is

a result of interaction between 3 main variables:

individual, institutional and leadership characteristics.



Research productivity can be broken down into:

Number of researches produced

Number of articles published

Number of papers presented in conference

Number of books authored


Click to edit Master title styleCONSTRUCT VALIDITY

One important test in research is construct validity.

YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOUR DATA

SUPPORTS THE THEORETICAL STRUCTURE.

Determine the attributes in each variable:

Individual characteristics

Institutional characteristics

Leadership characteristics



Individual characteristics that may affect

productivity:

Educational qualification

Research skills

Writing skills

Computing skills

Work habits

Number of teaching loads/number of preparation

Attitudes towards research



Institutional characteristics Institutional goals Research policies: incentives, workload policies Resources : library, internet, finances Research culture: support from peers, shared interest to do

research

Leadership characteristics Research involvement Support given to faculty research efforts Priorities given to research Performance of research functions


Click to edit Master title styleDetermine Relationship among variables

Individual characteristics are essentials

Institutional characteristics provide support structure

to enhance individual characteristics

Leadership influence institutional characteristics in

terms of resource allocation and policy formulation



Productivity

leadership institutional individual

Draw the Research Paradigm


END


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