Writing a Conceptual Writing a Conceptual FrameworkFramework

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Research MethodologiesResearch Methodologies

What is a conceptual What is a conceptual Framework Framework

Part IPart I

Conceptual framework

It is the researcher’s own position on the problem and gives direction to the study.

It may be an adaptation of a model used in a previous study, with modifications to suit the inquiry.

Aside from showing the direction of the study, through the conceptual framework, the researcher can be able to show the relationships of the different constructs that he wants to investigate.

Conceptual Framework. News values, and the pressures and constraints shape the newspapers and television newscasts. The result of this relationship is selective reporting of events.

Conceptual Framework

Operational Framework. Foreign news sections of Philippine newspapers and foreign news segments of television newscasts are shaped by the interests of owners, editorial policies, audience and advertisements. The criteria for selection of foreign news, the news values, also affect the foreign news coverage. These factors result in unequal treatment of stories and paved way for the dominance of some topics and of some regions in foreign news coverage of media.

Based on the foregoing example, how should the conceptual framework formulated?

1. cite your conceptual framework or paradigm;

2. Identify your variables;

3. Point out the dependent and intervening variables;

4. Show the direction of the study.Once the conceptual framework has been determined, the next for the researcher is to determine what research methods to employ to best answer the research problem through the proposed framework.

Research design depends on the nature of the data to analyzed.

Quantitative data – when your thesis problem requires numerical measurements of traits, trends, characteristics or attributes of the subject matter;

Analysis leads researcher to:

• depict what is typical and atypical among the data;

• show the degree of difference or relationship between two or more variables;

• determine the likelihood that the findings are real for the population as opposed to having occurred only by chance in the sample.

Qualitative data – when your thesis problem focuses on the meanings, perceptions, symbols or description of the subject matter.

Analysis leads researcher to:

• observe behaviors, situations, interactions and environments;

• scrutinize these observations for patterns and categories;

• answer research questions based on what can be deduced from the findings.

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TheoriesTheoriesPart IIPart II

Forms of TheoriesForms of Theories

• TheoryTheory– Interrelated set of constructs formed into propositions Interrelated set of constructs formed into propositions

that specify the relationships among variablesthat specify the relationships among variables– Describes how and why variables are relatedDescribes how and why variables are related

• Forms includeForms include– Set of hypothesesSet of hypotheses– Series of if-then statementsSeries of if-then statements– Visual modelVisual model

The Deductive Approach Used The Deductive Approach Used in Quantitative Researchin Quantitative Research

Researcher measures or observes variables using an instrument to obtain scores

Researcher defines and operationalizes variables derived from the theory

Researcher tests hypotheses or research questions from the theory

Researcher tests or verifies a theory

Placing Theory in a Placing Theory in a Quantitative StudyQuantitative Study

Placement Advantages Disadvantages

In the introduction Common approach; familiar to readers; conveys a deductive approach

Difficult for a reader to isolate theory base from other components of the research process

In the literature review

Including theories in a literature review is a logical extension or part of the literature

Difficult for a reader to see the theory in isolation from the larger literature

After hypotheses or research questions

The theory discussion explains how and why variables are related

May leave out an extended discussion about the origin and use of the theory

In a separate section Clearly separates the theory from other components of the research process, enables a reader to better identify and to understand the theory base

The theory discussion is isolated and may not easily connect with other components of the research process

Theory Use in Qualitative Theory Use in Qualitative ResearchResearch

• Theory may be used as:Theory may be used as:• A broad explanationA broad explanation• A theoretical lens or perspectiveA theoretical lens or perspective

• Feminist perspectiveFeminist perspective• Racialized discourseRacialized discourse• Critical theoryCritical theory• Queer theoryQueer theory• Disability inquiryDisability inquiry

• An endpoint, a theory that is generatedAn endpoint, a theory that is generated

• Researcher may also choose not to employ theory in Researcher may also choose not to employ theory in a qualitative studya qualitative study

The Inductive Logic of The Inductive Logic of Research in a Qualitative Research in a Qualitative

StudyStudy

Researcher asks open-ended questions of participants or records fieldnotes

Researcher analyzes data to form themes or categories

Researcher looks for broad patterns, generalizations, or theories from themes or categories

Researcher poses generalizations, or theories, and compares to past experiences and literature

Researcher gathers information

Use of Theory in Mixed Use of Theory in Mixed MethodsMethods

• Mixed methods studies may:Mixed methods studies may:• Include theory deductively (theory testing)Include theory deductively (theory testing)

• Include theory inductively (an emerging pattern)Include theory inductively (an emerging pattern)

• Use a theoretical lens or perspective to guide the studyUse a theoretical lens or perspective to guide the study

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Research Questions and Research Questions and HypothesisHypothesis

Part IIIPart III

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research QuestionsQuestions

• Qualitative researchers pose research questionsQualitative researchers pose research questions• Not objectivesNot objectives• Not hypothesesNot hypotheses

• Two types of qualitative research questions to focus Two types of qualitative research questions to focus a study's purpose:a study's purpose:• Central questionCentral question

• broad question that asks for exploration of the central broad question that asks for exploration of the central phenomenonphenomenon

• SubquestionsSubquestions• Questions that narrow the focus of the studyQuestions that narrow the focus of the study

Writing Qualitative Research Writing Qualitative Research QuestionsQuestions

• Ask 1-2 central questions and no more than 5-7 Ask 1-2 central questions and no more than 5-7 subquestionssubquestions

• These questions should:These questions should:• Relate the central question to the strategy of inquiryRelate the central question to the strategy of inquiry• Begin with "what" or "how"Begin with "what" or "how"• Focus on a single phenomenon or conceptFocus on a single phenomenon or concept• Use exploratory verbs like discover or describeUse exploratory verbs like discover or describe• Avoid directional words such as "affect" or "impact"Avoid directional words such as "affect" or "impact"• Evolve during the studyEvolve during the study• Be open-ended without reference to the literatureBe open-ended without reference to the literature• Specify the participants and research site (unless stated Specify the participants and research site (unless stated

previously)previously)

A Script for Writing a A Script for Writing a Qualitative Central QuestionQualitative Central Question

• (How or What)(How or What) is theis the ((““story forstory for”” for narrative for narrative research; research; ““meaning ofmeaning of”” the phenomenon for the phenomenon for phenomenology; phenomenology; ““theory that explains the process of theory that explains the process of ”” for grounded theory; for grounded theory; ““culture-sharing patternculture-sharing pattern”” for for ethnography; ethnography; ““issueissue”” in the in the ““casecase”” for case study) for case study) of of (central phenomenon)(central phenomenon) forfor (participants)(participants) atat (research (research site)site)..

Quantitative Research Quantitative Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

• Quantitative researchers pose research questions or hypotheses to focus Quantitative researchers pose research questions or hypotheses to focus the study's purposethe study's purpose

• Quantitative research questions:Quantitative research questions:• Questions about the relationships among variables that the investigator seeks to Questions about the relationships among variables that the investigator seeks to

knowknow

• Quantitative hypotheses:Quantitative hypotheses:• Predictions that the researcher makes about the expected relationships among Predictions that the researcher makes about the expected relationships among

variablesvariables• Predictions about the population values that the researcher will estimate based Predictions about the population values that the researcher will estimate based

on data from a sampleon data from a sample

• Quantitative objectives:Quantitative objectives:• Indicate a study's goalsIndicate a study's goals• Used frequently in proposals for fundingUsed frequently in proposals for funding

Writing Quantitative Research Writing Quantitative Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

• Write questions or hypotheses, not both Write questions or hypotheses, not both

• Consider 3 approaches to the variables for a question or Consider 3 approaches to the variables for a question or hypothesis:hypothesis:• Compare groupsCompare groups• Relate variablesRelate variables• Describe responsesDescribe responses

• Specify questions and hypotheses based on theory if possibleSpecify questions and hypotheses based on theory if possible

• Measure the independent and dependent variables separatelyMeasure the independent and dependent variables separately

• Generally use demographic information as intervening variables Generally use demographic information as intervening variables

• Use consistent words and ordering for independent and Use consistent words and ordering for independent and dependent variablesdependent variables

Scripts for Writing Quantitative Research Scripts for Writing Quantitative Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

• Does Does ((name the theoryname the theory)) explain the relationship explain the relationship between between (independent variable)(independent variable) and and (dependent (dependent variable)variable), controlling for the effects of , controlling for the effects of (control (control variable)variable)??

• There is no significant difference between There is no significant difference between (the (the control and experimental groups on the independent control and experimental groups on the independent variable)variable) on on (dependent variable)(dependent variable)..

Forms for Writing Quantitative Research Forms for Writing Quantitative Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

• If writing hypotheses, use a consistent form:If writing hypotheses, use a consistent form:• Null hypotheses (predict no difference or no relationship)Null hypotheses (predict no difference or no relationship)• Directional hypotheses (predict direction of difference or Directional hypotheses (predict direction of difference or

relationship)relationship)• Nondirectional hypotheses (predict a difference or relationship, Nondirectional hypotheses (predict a difference or relationship,

but not its direction)but not its direction)

• If writing research questions:If writing research questions:• First, specify descriptive questions for each important variableFirst, specify descriptive questions for each important variable• Next, state inferential questions that relate variables or Next, state inferential questions that relate variables or

compare groupscompare groups• Finally, add questions in which variables are controlledFinally, add questions in which variables are controlled

Mixed Methods Research Mixed Methods Research Questions and HypothesesQuestions and Hypotheses

• Advance both qualitative and quantitative research Advance both qualitative and quantitative research questions (or hypotheses)questions (or hypotheses)• Use guidelines for writing good qualitative and quantitative Use guidelines for writing good qualitative and quantitative

questions and hypothesesquestions and hypotheses• Order questions to match the mixed methods designOrder questions to match the mixed methods design

• In a two-phase design, order to match the phasesIn a two-phase design, order to match the phases• In a one-phase design, order according to the method given the In a one-phase design, order according to the method given the

most weightmost weight

• Include a mixed methods research question thatInclude a mixed methods research question that• Directly addresses the mixing of the two strandsDirectly addresses the mixing of the two strands• Is written to convey the Is written to convey the proceduresprocedures or the or the contentcontent of the study of the study

Different Ways to Write Questions and Different Ways to Write Questions and Hypotheses into a Mixed Methods StudyHypotheses into a Mixed Methods Study

• Write separate qualitative questions and quantitative questions Write separate qualitative questions and quantitative questions or hypotheses:or hypotheses:• At the beginning or as they emerge in phasesAt the beginning or as they emerge in phases• This places emphasis on the two approachesThis places emphasis on the two approaches

• Write separate questions or hypotheses followed by a mixed Write separate questions or hypotheses followed by a mixed methods question:methods question:• This highlights the two approaches as well as their combined This highlights the two approaches as well as their combined

strengthstrength

• Write only a mixed methods question:Write only a mixed methods question:• This emphasizes the integration and not the individual partsThis emphasizes the integration and not the individual parts