This document provides information about conceptual frameworks, including what they are, their purpose, and how to develop one. It defines a conceptual framework as a visual or written representation that explains the key factors, concepts, or variables in a study and their relationships. The main purposes of a conceptual framework are to help identify the research problem, frame relevant questions, guide the literature review, and lead to testable hypotheses. The document advises researching literature in the topic area and identifying the key variables and relationships between them to develop a conceptual framework. It includes an example of a conceptual framework for a study on unsafe abortions.

1. Conceptual Framework
Dr. Quamrun Nahar
Summer 2016
North South University

2. • There is more misunderstanding and confusion
about the conceptual framework than any
other part of a research proposal
– What is it?
– What is its’ purpose?
– How to do it?
Conceptual Framework

3. • Conceptual frameworks are structured from a
set of broad ideas and theories that help a
researcher to properly identify the problem
they are looking at, frame their questions and
find suitable literature (Smyth, 2004).
Conceptual Framework:
What is it?

4. • It is a visual or written product which
“explains, either graphically or in narrative
form, the main things to be studied—the key
factors, concepts, or variables—and the
presumed relationships among them”
- Miles & Huberman (1994)
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Conceptual Framework:
What is it?

5. • It is a set of ideas used to structure the
research, a sort of map that may include the
research question, the literature review,
methods and data analysis.
• It goes by many names; “model”, “conceptual
model”, “conceptual considerations”,
“theoretical model”, etc.
Conceptual Framework:
What is it?

6. • The primary purpose is to lead to hypotheses
that are subject to testing
• Clarifies concepts and proposed relationships
among the concepts
• Provides a context for interpreting study result
Conceptual Framework:
What is its’ purpose?

7. What is required to develop a conceptual
framework?
• Knowledge on the topic
• Assisted by literature review
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8. Contents of a conceptual framework
• Key ideas or constructs of research problem
• List of variables
• Relationships between variables
• Diagram showing relationships between
variables and direction of the relationships
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9. The following steps may be useful in developing
the conceptual model:
1) Study the research literature related to your
problem. How have others conceptualized
problems similar to yours? Are their conceptual
analyses adaptable to your framework?
2) Reduce the problem to the simplest set of
conditions. What are the key variables in your
research and what is the relationship between these
variables?
3) Identify applicable theory (if possible). Consider a
wide range of theories in selecting the most
appropriate.
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10. 4) Start with a simple model. Based on your literature
review and basic assumptions, start with a simple
model
5) Expand the simple model to other relevant
dimensions of the problem. Alter and relax
assumptions, then reanalyze the problem. This will
likely make the model more complex, but
remember, the goal is not complexity, but rather,
accurately addressing the problem.
6) Assemble relevant, testable hypotheses from the
conceptual analysis.
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11. An example: unsafe abortion study
Dependent variable: Unsafe abortion
Independent Variables
• Socio-demographic: age, religion, education, occupation, marital
status, monthly household income
• Reproductive health: number of previous pregnancies, number
of past MR/abortion, age of last child
• Contraceptive use: knowledge of contraceptive methods,
previous use of contraceptives, type used
• Fertility Intention: wanting to have a child
• Decision making: husband-wife discussion about FP
• Health services: availability, cost, type of providers
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