Conceptual framework
A conceptual framework is an
Examples
Economists use the conceptual framework of
All three of these cases are examples of a macro level conceptual framework.
Overview
The use of the term conceptual framework crosses both scale (large and small theories)[4][5] and contexts (social science,[6][7] marketing,[8] applied science,[9] art[10] etc.). The explicit definition of what a conceptual framework is and its application can therefore vary.
Conceptual frameworks are beneficial as organizing devices in empirical research. One set of scholars has applied the notion of a conceptual framework to
Likewise, conceptual frameworks are abstract representations, connected to the research project's goal that direct the collection and analysis of data (on the plane of observation – the ground). Critically, a football play is a "plan of action" tied to a particular, timely, purpose, usually summarized as long or short yardage.[15] Shields and Rangarajan (2013) argue that it is this tie to "purpose" that makes American football plays such a good metaphor. They define a conceptual framework as "the way ideas are organized to achieve a research project's purpose".[13] Like football plays, conceptual frameworks are connected to a research purpose or aim. Explanation[16] is the most common type of research purpose employed in empirical research. The formal hypothesis of a scientific investigation is the framework associated with explanation.[17]
Explanatory research usually focuses on "why" or "what caused" a phenomenon. Formal hypotheses posit possible explanations (answers to the why question) that are tested by collecting data and assessing the evidence (usually quantitative using statistical tests). For example, Kai Huang wanted to determine what factors contributed to residential fires in U.S. cities. Three factors were posited to influence residential fires. These factors (environment, population, and building characteristics) became the hypotheses or conceptual framework he used to achieve his purpose – explain factors that influenced home fires in U.S. cities.[18]
Types
Several types of conceptual frameworks have been identified,[13][14][19] and line up with a research purpose in the following ways:
- Working hypothesis – exploration or exploratory research[20]
- Pillar questions – exploration or exploratory research
- Descriptive categories – description or descriptive research
- Practical ideal type – analysis (gauging)
- Models of decision making
- Formal hypothesis – explanation and prediction
Note that Shields and Rangarajan (2013) do not claim that the above are the only framework-purpose pairing. Nor do they claim the system is applicable to inductive forms of empirical research. Rather, the conceptual framework-research purpose pairings they propose are useful and provide new scholars a point of departure to develop their own research design.[13]
Frameworks have also been used to explain
See also
References
- Simon and Schuster, introduction by M. Walzer.
- McGraw Hill and Frank, Robert and Ben Bernanke. 2013. Principles of Microeconomics, 5th edition. New York: McGraw Hill.
- ISBN 978-1-4665-5899-1
- Sage, p. xiii
- Sage, p. 222
- ^ Moorstein, Mark. Frameworks, Conflict in Balance.
- S2CID 167836808
- ^ Hobbs, R.; Norton, D. (2006), "Towards a Conceptual Framework for Restoration Ecology", Restoration Ecology, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 93–110
- ISBN 978-0-2532-0217-8endnote #47
- S2CID 141201197
- ^ Baum, K. (2003), "Assessing Group Conflict: Understanding the Line-Staff Relationship in Fire Service", in Pammer, W.; Killian, J. (eds.), Handbook of Conflict Management, New York: Marcel Dekker, pp. 129–135
- ^ ]
- ^ a b Shields, Patricia (1998), "Pragmatism as a Philosophy of Science: A Tool for Public Administration", Research in Public Administration, 4: 195–225
- Washington D.C.: Texas State University Presentation at the American Society for Public Administrationannual conference, Washington DC March 15, ThisPowerPointt depicts the connection between football and conceptual frameworks in the context of a large graduate student paper. The national presentation was delivered before Public Administration graduate students in Washington DC.
- Wadsworth, p. 89 Babbie also identifies exploration and description as purposes of empirical research
- ^ Brains, C.; Willnat, L.; Manheim, J.; Rich, R. (2011), Empirical Political Analysis: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, New York, NY: Longman, pp. 75–77 Brains et al 2011 also identify exploration, explanation and description as research purposes. The explanation is connected to hypotheses testing (as a framework). The other research purposes are not connected to a framework.
- ^ Huang, Kai (2009), "Population and Building Factors that impact residential fire rates in large U.S. Cities", An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University-San Marcos, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2009, Applied Research Projects, Texas State University: 42 The formal hypotheses took the form of relational statements. H1: environmental factors influence residential fire rates; H2: population characteristics influence residential fire rates; H3: Building factors influence residential fire rates. These hypotheses could be represented visually as H1: A → RFR; H2: B → RFR; H3: C → RFR where A = environmental factors; B = population characteristics; C = Building Factors and RFR = Residential Fire Rates.
- ISBN 978-0-9973-0842-6
- ^ Casula, M., Rangarajan, N. & Shields, P. The potential of working hypotheses for deductive exploratory research. Qual Quant (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-020-01072-9
- ISBN 978-0-5953-1824-7.
- ^ Thomas Kuhn. (1996) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-3521-1700-7.
conceptual framework.
- Botha, M. E. (1989). "Theory Development in Perspective: The Role of Conceptual Frameworks and Models in Theory Development". PMID 2926015.
- ISBN 978-0-0300-5250-7.
- Shields, Patricia and Rangarajan, Nandhini. (2013). A Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management. Stillwater, OK; New Forums Press (ISBN 1-58107-247-3)