BY: MAYET AGUSTIN-TEANO, Ph.D.

THEORETICAL and CONCEPTUAL

FRAMEWORK
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Overview
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.
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What 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.
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What 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.
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Theoretical 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.
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Purpose 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.
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Conceptual framework
Theories are sometimes too broad to test, hence
you may draw your conceptual framework.
Theory
Concept
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Conceptual 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.
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Purposes 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.
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Research 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 .
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Commonly Used Paradigm
Input Process Output
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Independent
variables
Dependent
variables
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Developing 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?
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How 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 .
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Organizing 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.
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Doing 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

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Research 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.
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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
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CONSTRUCT 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
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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
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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
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Determine 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
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Productivity
leadership
institutional
individual
Draw the Research Paradigm
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END
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