From Conceptualisation to Framework – How do

you do it? Why it is necessary?

Yuserrie ZainuddinSchool of Management

Universiti Sains Malaysia8 April 2009

What is Research?Why are we conduct Research?

• A systematic and organised effort to investigate a specific problem with the purpose of findings solutions to it or clarifying it.

• To generate theory (induction)• To test theory (deduction) • To falsify the theory (Popperian)

• A systematic and organised effort to investigate a specific problem with the purpose of findings solutions to it or clarifying it.

• To generate theory (induction)• To test theory (deduction) • To falsify the theory (Popperian)

What is your research endeavour?

Your observation.Why this?

How do you see this – Where is the knowledge

reside?

Your hypothesis.Based on what?

What is your answer?Do you really an expert

(scholar)?

Research problem/Focus of your study

Literature review/Observation/knowledgeYou are the expert.

Have you solved theProblem and answer Your research questions?Theoretical Framework..

True or Not true

What are looking for? TRUTH?

Which METHODOLOGY?

How to develop our epistemology – “expertise”?

• Experiencing – participation.• Observation.• Literature review.

• Experiencing – participation.• Observation.• Literature review.

5

Starting a Literature Review

• Preliminary checklist:

Have I formulated a topic and well-defined set of research questions?

Have I discussed my topic and research questions with a library staff member that can assist me with searching for sources?

Have I carried out some early searching to learn about the topic and to help me narrow my topic and sharpen my questions?

Have I talked to a faculty member about my topic, my research questions, and the results of my early searching?

Have I identified the core research on the topic, the “classic” works?

• Preliminary checklist:

Have I formulated a topic and well-defined set of research questions?

Have I discussed my topic and research questions with a library staff member that can assist me with searching for sources?

Have I carried out some early searching to learn about the topic and to help me narrow my topic and sharpen my questions?

Have I talked to a faculty member about my topic, my research questions, and the results of my early searching?

Have I identified the core research on the topic, the “classic” works?

6

Writing a Literature Review

• Potential organizing principles:

– Methodology: Theoretical perspective, empirical framework

– Studies that agree with one another– Studies that disagree with one another– Extent of support for your thesis– Regional focus– Data range, sample– Chronological

7

WHY WRITE A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE?WHY WRITE A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE?

Here are some of the questions your literature review should answer:

1. What do we already know in the immediate area concerned?

2. What are the characteristics of the key concepts or the main factors or variables? 3. What are the relationships between these key concepts, factors or variables? 4. What are the existing theories? 5. Where are the inconsistencies or other shortcomings in our knowledge and understanding? 6. What views need to be (further) tested? 7. What evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory or too limited? 8. Why study (further) the research problem? 9. What contribution can the present study be expected to make? 10. What research designs or methods seem unsatisfactory? 

What is Theory?The role of theory?

• A statement that purports to account for or characterised some phenomena.

• To describe - descriptive• To explain - explanatory• To predict - predictive

The Building Blocks of Theory

• Concepts• Constructs• Definitions• Variables• Propositions and Hypotheses• Theories• Models

• Concepts• Constructs• Definitions• Variables• Propositions and Hypotheses• Theories• Models

What is Conceptualisation?

• "conceptualizations" to refer to the unique ways in which knowledge is represented and organized, processed, and manipulated internally in individuals' minds (researchers’ minds)

Conceptualise

• to form a concept or idea of• The concept turn to something is visible –

variable (visualise).• Relationship between concepts (variables) –

independent and dependent variable.• Manifestation from theory – theory may

applicable to other fields

Conceptualizing• One of the most difficult aspects of research --

and one of the least discussed -- is how to develop the idea for the research project

• One of the most difficult aspects of research -- and one of the least discussed -- is how to develop the idea for the research project

Conceptualizing

• Most faculty just assume that if you read enough of the research in an area of interest, you will somehow magically be able to produce sensible ideas for further research.

• Most faculty just assume that if you read enough of the research in an area of interest, you will somehow magically be able to produce sensible ideas for further research.

Aspects of Measurement Validity in Social Research

What is a Concept in sociological research ? Concept : 1. Mental Constructs, or images, developed to symbolize ideas, persons, things, or events. (symbolic interaction) 2. An Organized principle used to differentiate those classes of phenomena with common characteristics from other classes of phenomena.

Are we measuring what we intend to measure ?OR , Are we measuring the correct Concept ?Are we measuring what we intend to measure ?OR , Are we measuring the correct Concept ?

Conceptualization

• In Deductive research, conceptualization helps to translate portions of an abstract theory into specific variables that can be used in testable hypotheses.

• In Inductive research, conceptualization is an important part of the process used to make sense of related observations.

• In Deductive research, conceptualization helps to translate portions of an abstract theory into specific variables that can be used in testable hypotheses.

• In Inductive research, conceptualization is an important part of the process used to make sense of related observations.

Conceptualization is the process of specifying what we mean by a term. ( A clear, verbal specification of your variable (concept) so that others know what it is and can place cognitive borders around it.

Conceptualization is the process of specifying what we mean by a term. ( A clear, verbal specification of your variable (concept) so that others know what it is and can place cognitive borders around it.

Conceptualization Continued…

If we hypothesized that lower social status in college students directly correlates to an increase in deviant behavior, then what exactly is Deviant Behavior ? (The conceptual DV we are measuring)

-Deviant Behavior as: Causing physical harm, Talking out loud in class, Underage Drinking, etc, etc.

The Multi-Dimensions of Conceptual Definitions

• What is a Table ?

• What is a Car ?

• What is Religiosity ?

– 1. Ideological Dimension 3. Ritualistic Dimension– 2. Experiential Dimension 4. Consequential Dimension– 5. Intellectual Dimension

• What is a Table ?

• What is a Car ?

• What is Religiosity ?

– 1. Ideological Dimension 3. Ritualistic Dimension– 2. Experiential Dimension 4. Consequential Dimension– 5. Intellectual Dimension

* What about VS

Operationalization

In Social Research, there are

Operations of Measurement.•Operation: A procedure for identifying or indicating the value of

cases on a variable. (Instructions)

•Operationalization: The process of specifying the operations that will indicate the value of cases on a variable

Lets say we were to Operationalize the effects of “Sending Flowers and Get well cards” to a Patient,

as a method of “Increasing Health.”

• Shorter hospital stays – Operationalized as “Days spent in the hospital”• Normal heart rates and blood pressures –

Operationalized in “Beats per minute” and “Diastolic and systolic pressures”.

• Increased morale – Operationalized by asking patients a series of questions about their attitude, current outlook, emotions.

How will we measure “Increasing

Health”of Patients ?

How will we measure “Increasing

Health”of Patients ?

Concepts in Research

Conflicts in Measurement Validity1. All concepts are Multi-Dimensional

– What do we mean by social status?

Conflicts in Measurement Validity1. All concepts are Multi-Dimensional

– What do we mean by social status?

Lets do a study to see if there is a Direct relationship between Social Status of parents and Deviant Behavior in college students.

Lets do a study to see if there is a Direct relationship between Social Status of parents and Deviant Behavior in college students.

Social Status

Power Privilege Prestige

Indicators

O E I G R E A B R

IncomePossessions, Fashion, Teeth, Self-Report, Jewelry, etc.

Process of

Conceptualization

And Operation-alization

How do you conceptualise?Tourist attractionTourist attraction

a place of interest a place of interest A place for leisureHistorical significance

amusement opportunities

monuments, zoos, aquaria, museums and art galleries, botanical gardens

urban, open-range, safari, animal theme, roadside, rescue, sanctuary, petting, and specialized

urban, open-range, safari, animal theme, roadside, rescue, sanctuary, petting, and specialized

visitors can drive in their own vehicles and observe the wildlife

visitors can drive in their own vehicles and observe the wildlife

How do you conceptualise?

TOURISMTOURISM

Nautical tourism

Religious tourism Religious tourism

Cultural tourism Cultural tourism

Wildlife tourism Wildlife tourism

Medical tourism Medical tourism

medical travelmedical travel

health tourism health tourism

global healthcare

management of illness

Treatment of illnessTreatment of illness

preservation of health

Chronic care management Chronic care management

Conceptualisation

Dental surgery

surgery involving the pulp or root of the toothOperationalisation

Understanding Concepts

• The success of research hinges on:– how clearly we conceptualize– how well others understand the concepts

we use– How well we justified the chosen concept

You are the expert in the area of your interest

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK (TF)

• is a conceptual model• how we theorise the relationships amongst

several concepts (variables)• that have been identified as important to the

research problem• Shown in schematic diagram or

mathematical/equation

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

• Helps to postulate and test certain relationship - to improve understanding of the dynamics of the situation

• testable hypotheses can be developed• the basis of entire research rests• we can identify the variables

Theoretical Framework

ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEALTH TOURISM-management of illness-Treatment of illness-preservation of health-Chronic care management

ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEALTH TOURISM-management of illness-Treatment of illness-preservation of health-Chronic care management

Intention to visitIntention to visit

Independent variable Dependent variable

H1: The higher the attitude towards management of illness, the higher the intention to visit the country.

Problem is about intention to visit ---- a researcher wants to know whether attitudetowards health tourism will able to explain why tourist has an intention to visitthe country that offers health tourism

Metro Manila

• http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resprob.php