Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Framework

1. Pasajol, May Dylene
Morcilla, Arian
Business Research Writing Part I
I. Macro, Micro, and Problematic Situation in the background of the study.
Background of the study
● Importance and validity of the problem
● General orientation to the problem area
● A brief rationale to justify the problem must be provided
● Present state of knowledge regarding the problem
In writing the background of the study you can do/write:
➔ Problem in general (macro) and the specific (micro) situations (from
observations and/ or experiences)
➔ Concepts and ideas related to the problem
➔ Present conditions and what is aimed to be in the future or the gap to fill in
by the research.
Answer the questions:
● What facets of the problem(phenomenon)are known and need further
investigation?
● What approaches have been used previously in research of the problem?
The introduction, which starts with the background of the study should contain substantial
information to be able to present the problems or certain gaps that the researcher is trying
to address. Since this is the first part of the research paper, the researcher should be able
to excite or create interest so that panelists and readers will be interested to scan the
succeeding pages of the research study. One of the ways to present the problematic
situation in the background of the study is to start from the global scale.
In this part, the researcher will discuss the general background (macro) of the problem
or situation related to the problem. Suppose there are no existing studies that address
the specific problem. In that case, the challenge of the researcher is to uncover the facts
that might lead to the assessment, analysis, and solution of the problem. Lastly, to
proceed with the national and local scale by examining problems in the country’s capital
and other industrialized areas. After the macro is briefly discussed, it proceeds with a brief
discussion of the specific background (micro) of the problem.

2. Macro - overall information or in other words it is a large or compact idea that is related
to the problem
● Nation
● societies
Micro - A single or specific information to a certain topic.
● Individuals
● Families
● firms
II. Conceptual Framework
● The conceptual framework is considered the backbone of the research
study. All other important parts of the research should be anchored to this,
especially the title, sub-problems, objectives, instrument, and statistical
treatment.
● Aside from the graphical model, the conceptual framework must state how
and where the variables are anchored in the theoretical framework (through
the variables of the theory). The statement of the problem must be
represented in a conceptual framework through a graphical model showing
the relationships of variables in the study. All other important parts of the
research should be anchored to this, especially the title, sub-problems,
objectives, instrument, and statistical treatment. When coming up with a
conceptual framework, be careful in illustrating the relationships of the
variables with the use of arrows or lines. Then the variables used in the
conceptual framework are briefly discussed to clarify how they will be
applied in the study. This is because the primary purpose of the conceptual
framework is to subject the variables to hypothesis testing.
● In research, a conceptual framework is an overall system of concepts,
assumptions, expectations, beliefs, and values that guides researchers in
studying a phenomenon. It is used to help develop research questions,
hypotheses, and methods. The conceptual framework is also used to
analyze and interpret data.
● The conceptual framework is generally developed based on a literature
review of existing studies and theories on the subject.

3. ● When coming up with a conceptual framework, be careful in illustrating the
relationships of the variables with the use of arrows or lines. Concepts must
be inside the boxes, processes are shown by arrows.
REMINDER: “Researchers do not just create conceptual framework out of
nowhere” means researchers seek and develop their conceptual framework based
on a literature review of existing studies about a certain topic.
For example,
You want to know if students who study longer hours score higher on tests. To investigate
this question, you can use methods such as an experiment or a survey to test the
relationship between the variables. Before you start collecting data, build a conceptual
framework to show exactly which variables you will measure and how you expect them
to relate to each other.
Independent and dependent variables
If we want to test a cause-and-effect relationship, we need to identify at least two key
variables: the independent variable and the dependent variable. In our example:
● The expected cause, “study hours”, is the independent variable (also known
as a predictive or explanatory variable).
● The expected effect, “test score,” is the dependent variable (also known as
the response or the outcome variable).
● “ Health “ A controlled variable is one which the researcher holds constant
(controls) during an experiment.
● “ IQ “Alters the effect that an independent variable has on a dependent
variable. Therefore, the moderator changes the effective component of the
cause-effect relationship. This is also known as the interaction effect.
● “number of practice problems completed” is Mediating Variables, a variable
that links the independent and dependent variables, which allows the
relationship between them to be better explained

4. In other words, the “exam score” depends on the “study hours.” Our hypothesis is that the
more hours a student studies, the better they will do on the exam. Causal relationships
often involve several independent variables that affect the dependent variable. However,
to keep things simple, we will work with a single independent variable, namely “study
hours.”
In previous example, if a student is feeling ill, he or she is likely to score lower on the test.
Therefore, we will add “health” as a control variable. This means that we must keep the
variable “health” constant in our study; We will only include participants who are in good
health on the day of the exam.
While in mediating variable of “number of practice problems completed” is between the
independent and dependent variables. Study hours affect the number of practice
problems, which in turn affects your exam score. the mediator helps explain why studying
more hours leads to a higher test score. The more hours a student studies, the more
practice problems they will complete; The more practice problems that are completed, the
higher the student’s exam score.
Health
Test Scores Study hours
number of practice
problems completed
IQ

5. III. Link the Conceptual framework with the theoretical framework
The terms ‘conceptual framework’ and ‘theoretical framework’ is commonly used in
referring to the overall structure that shapes a research project. However, there are
subtle differences between the two. This presentation sets out to clarify these
differences along with providing pointers on how to go about constructing each
framework.
Let’s begin by seeing the difference between a concept and a theory.
Concept vs. theory
● A concept is an idea that has been formally developed and organized.
● A theory is a set of concepts, models, principles, definitions etc. that make
sense of a phenomenon by determining relationships among variables.
Theories are established and validated by experiments and evidence.
How does the conceptual framework link or connected to the theoretical
framework?
First, what is a theoretical framework
Theoretical framework
A theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory/theories
underpinning the research problem. Thus, theoretical frameworks support research by
describing and drawing from relevant theoretical aspects obtained in previous work.
● Discusses the theories on which your study is anchored
● Relevant theories or laws are presented and explained in how they lead to the
present study
Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework is like a roadmap for your study, helping you visualize
your research project and put it into action. It defines the relevant variables for your study
and maps out how they might relate to each other.
A conceptual framework has different uses in different types of studies;

6. ● In Quantitative studies, a conceptual framework might be used to determine
survey questions or data points, or to generate a hypothesis for explanation and
predictions
● In Qualitative studies, a conceptual framework might be used to provide a
working hypothesis or a set of the research question or to identify or explore
categories in descriptive research
Conceptual Framework Theoretical Framework
● It is more about the approach that a
researcher takes in answering a
research question.
● It is developed from existing
theory/theories.
● It is derived from concepts. ● It is derived from theory.
● A conceptual framework is
composed of several concepts.
Further, a conceptual framework
may include a theoretical framework.
● By itself, one theory alone can serve as
a theoretical framework.
● Conceptual frameworks identify
factors influencing a particular field,
e.g., exploration of ‘masquerade’
mimicry in animals based on
phenomena such as protective
mimicry, crypsis, and aposematism.
● A theoretical framework arises from
outcomes beyond a single study,
based on one or more theories, e.g.
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural
selection.
IV. Conceptual Framework Variables must be anchored in the theory
● The theory is composed of variables that are systematically related in order to
provide an explanation or prediction.
● It is empirically proven to be true again and again.
● On the other hand, a conceptual framework is composed of variables that will be
tested through hypothesis testing.
Being able to find appropriate theories and concepts will assure better generalizability of
the study given that these variables and indicators used were already tested in by various
authors.

7. - This means as a researcher, we should be selective about which journals we
should read and prioritize those published in major journals. We should also
investigate the level of reliability than the feature of its own variable/s in published
studies and theories.
V. Measuring the Problem as represented by the conceptual framework
● The problem and sub-problems represented in a conceptual framework should be
relevant to the issues or business dilemma you are trying to address.
- Means your conceptual framework’s problem and sub-problems should be relevant to
the issues or the dilemma of your business that you are trying to resolve. As a researcher,
we must consider the appropriate terms to use when interpreting the relationship of the
variables in the research question
References
Conceptual framework vs. Theoretical framework – and constructing each .
https://www.cwauthors.com/article/conceptual-framework-versus-theoretical-framework-
in-research
https://research.phoenix.edu/blog/using-theoretical-or-conceptual-frameworks-scholarly-
study
https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-assets/110533_book_item_110533.pdf