What is a Conceptual Framework? Definitions, Resources, Books and Examples
What is a conceptual framework? That's a question that I've been trying to answer recently. First, I was stunned by how difficult it was to find much online, and secondly, I was shaken by how intangible explanations often were. Then, once I felt that I had some kind of understanding, I wasn't just sure of how a conceptual framework is actually implemented.
As I'm no great expert, this page is going to instead be a collection of resources to try and help save others the time and trouble I had to go to to find anything out.
Probably the best resource that I came across, at first, was Overlooking the conceptual framework by Shosh Leshem and Vernon Trafford. They open their article with "The conceptual framework is alluded to in most serious texts on research, described in some and fully explained in few." This helps explain the difficulty that I've been having finding good sources. Shosh Leshem and Vernon Trafford conducted a study on how conceptual frameworks are understood and assessed during doctoral vivas. This article is worth reading as it's reassuring that even supervisors often seem to have difficulty understand the conceptual framework, it explains a bit about what a conceptual framework is and it's helpful as it contains an exploration of the literature! The best of these books has been included in the books section along with other texts that seem significant.
Books
Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (2005) J. A. Maxwell
Shosh Leshem and Vernon Trafford referenced this work in their paper and the third chapter of the book is dedicated to the conceptual framework and is available for free below.
- Free Conceptual framework chapter
- Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd edition, 2012)
- Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (1st, 1996)(much cheaper)
Miles & Huberman Qualitative data analysis: a sourcebook of new methods
According to Leshem and Trafford (2007) this is the most frequently cited primary text by doctoral researchers on the conceptual framework and is one of "only two texts [that] provided a thorough handling of the issue." They cite the 1984 edition but the links are to the 1994 second edition (as it's much cheaper) and the latest 2019 forth edition.
From the Amazon preview (of the forth edition) we can see that chapter 2: Research Design and Data Management has a 5 page section on Displaying the Conceptual Framework with subheadings: description and rationale, example, other examples, and conceptual framework advice.
I've ordered this and will write more later.
- Qualitative data analysis (4th edition, 2019)
- Qualitative data analysis (2nd, 1994)(much cheaper)
Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research by Sharon M. Ravitch
I haven't had a chance to explore this one but it certainly seems worth your time. Let me know what you think below if you find it useful or not.
- Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research (2nd edition, 2016)
- Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research (1st, 2011)
Stepping Stones To Achieving Your Doctorate: By Focusing On Your Viva From The Start (2008) by Vernon Trafford; Shosh Leshem
Vernon Trafford and Shosh Leshem have their own book on achieving a doctorate. Seeing as their paper (2007) (mentioned above) was so excellent, this one is probably worth your time.
According to the index (seen in the Amazon preview) there's a lot on the conceptual framework (the most that I've seen in an index) as well as good chapters on reviewing literature and research design.
- Stepping Stones To Achieving Your Doctorate (1st, 2008)
Rudestam, K. E. & Newton, R. R. (1992) Surviving your dissertation (London, Sage)
This book seemed very relevant in Leshem and Trafford's article (2007) and has a good section on the literature review and the statement of the problem. Also mentions the conceptual framework in the index.
- Surviving your dissertation (4th edition, 2014)
- Surviving your dissertation (3rd, 2000)
Robson, C. (1993) Real world research (Oxford, Blackwell)
Has some great chapters on research design and literature review. Plus mentions conceptual framework in the index. Referenced by Leshem and Trafford.
- Real world research (4th edition, 2015)
- Real world research (2nd, 2002)
Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation, Norman Blaikie and Jan Priest
Discovering this one has been a happy accident but it seems to cover concepts and theories well and includes modelling. It also includes many references to "conceptual framework" in the index. It could be worth exploring.
- Designing Social Research (3rd edition, 2018)
- Designing Social Research (2nd, 2009 / 1st 2000)
Other books referenced by Leshem and Trafford worth exploring
- May, T. (1993) Social research: issues, methods and process (Buckingham, Open University Press). (mentions the conceptual framework)
- Glatthorn, A. A. (1998) Writing the winning dissertation (London, Sage). (mentions the conceptual framework)
- Burton, S. & Steane, P. (Eds) (2005) Surviving your thesis (London, Routledge). (mentions the conceptual framework)
- King, G., Keohane, R. O. & Verba, S. (1994) Designing social inquiry: scientific inference in qualitative research (Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press).
- Berger, R. M. & Patchener, M. A. (1988) Implementing the research plan (London, Sage).
- Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. (1996) How to research (Buckingham, Open University Press).
- Bouma, G. D. (1993) The research process (Oxford, Oxford University Press).
- Cohen, L., Lawrence, M. & Morrison, K. (2000) Research methods in education (5th edn) (London, Routledge Falmer).
- Mason, J. (1996) Qualitative researching (London, Sage).
- Punch, K. F. (2000) Developing effective research proposal (London, Sage).
Other Books
- Sociological Practice: Linking Theory and Social Research 1998 by Derek Layder
- Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Research Imagination (SAGE Study Skills Series) 2018 by Chris Hart
Essays
Weaver-Hart (1988) Framing an innocent concept and getting away with it, UCEA Review
This is the second text of two that according to Leshem and Trafford (2007) provides a thorough handling of the conceptual framework.
I've not been able to get access to it though. Let me know if you can and how below to help other students.
Links
- Overlooking the conceptual framework by Shosh Leshem and Vernon Trafford
- Utility of a conceptual framework within doctoral study: A researcher's reflections (2013) Jeanette Berman
- A conceptual framework for thinking about conceptual frameworks: bridging the theory-practice gap, Hills, J. & Gibson, C. (1992), Journal of Educational Administration, 30(4) 4-24. (L&T Rec)(CF mentioned)
- Thinking about conceptual frameworks in a research community of practice: a case of a doctoral programme Shosh Leshem
- Intermediate Theory: The Missing Link in Successful Student Scholarship, Patricia M. Shields & Hassan Tajalli
Example / PhDs
If you know of any others please mention them in the comments below.
- Understanding Contemporary Development: Tanzanian Life Narratives of Intervention, A Thesis Submitted to the University of Manchester
- Student Theses, Manchester University
- Women and Wars: Contested Histories, Uncertain Futures by Carol Cohn (Chapter one: Women and wars: Towards a conceptual framework)
- A Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health
Videos
- Conceptual frameworks in a Masters or Doctoral thesis
- How to Write a Literature Review (UCD Writing Centre)
- Dissertation Writing: Theoretical and Conceptual Framework - Prof B. McArthur
- Writing the Literature Review
Blog posts / Wiki
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