Week 12

Research
Proposal
Literature
Understanding the Conceptual and Theoretical Framework
Author

Dr Samuel Nguah

Published

November 8, 2025

Introduction

After you have reviewed the literature and identified the gaps your study seeks to fill, the next logical step in your research journey is to construct the conceptual and theoretical framework. This section acts as the intellectual scaffolding for your study — the structure that holds your ideas, assumptions, and relationships together. Yet, it is one of the most confusing components for many residents and early researchers. What is a theoretical framework? How does it differ from a conceptual one? And how do you actually build them? Let us unpack these questions systematically.

What Is a Theoretical Framework?

A theoretical framework is the foundation on which your entire study is built. It is drawn from existing, well-established theories that explain how and why certain phenomena occur. By using such a theory, you are aligning your study within a broader intellectual tradition and showing that your work builds upon, rather than duplicates, previous knowledge.

For instance, a study on medication adherence among children with chronic illnesses could be guided by the Health Belief Model or Social Cognitive Theory. These theories explain how individual beliefs, perceived barriers, and social influences affect health behaviors. Using one of these provides a lens through which your findings can be interpreted.

In short, the theoretical framework: - Defines the theoretical lens for your study;
- Provides a rationale for your hypotheses or expectations;
- Connects your study to existing scholarly traditions; and
- Helps interpret your findings in light of established principles.

What Is a Conceptual Framework?

A conceptual framework, on the other hand, is a researcher’s own model that illustrates the key concepts, variables, and their relationships in the specific context of the study. It is often developed when there is no single established theory that fits your topic neatly.

Unlike the theoretical framework, which borrows from pre-existing theories, the conceptual framework is more flexible — a map you construct from insights in the literature, observations, and logical reasoning.

Think of it as a visual or narrative representation of how you believe the key factors interact. For example, in a study exploring factors influencing childhood anemia in rural Ghana, your conceptual framework might show how malaria infection, nutritional status, maternal education, and socioeconomic factors relate to haemoglobin levels.

The conceptual framework therefore: - Clarifies how variables are connected in your study;
- Provides a logical structure for analysis;
- Guides data collection and interpretation; and
- Serves as a “map” of what you intend to explore.

The Difference Between Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks

While the two are often used interchangeably, they are not identical.

Feature Theoretical Framework Conceptual Framework
Source Derived from existing theory Built from literature and researcher’s synthesis
Purpose Provides established explanation or prediction Illustrates how concepts relate in this specific study
Flexibility Fixed (follows an existing model) Adaptable (customized to your study)
When Used When a suitable theory exists When no single theory fully fits
Example Applying Social Cognitive Theory to study adherence Diagram showing how beliefs, access, and caregiver education affect adherence

In many health research studies — particularly in clinical and public health contexts — it is common to have a hybrid, where a theoretical foundation informs a researcher-designed conceptual framework. The theoretical framework provides the why, and the conceptual framework provides the how.

Steps in Developing a Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

Step 1: Identify Key Concepts

Start by extracting the major variables or ideas from your research objectives and literature review. Group related ideas together and note recurring patterns. For example, if your study examines determinants of stunting, key concepts may include dietary diversity, infection, maternal knowledge, and household income.

Step 2: Review Relevant Theories

Search for theories that explain relationships among your variables. These could come from psychology, sociology, public health, or economics — depending on your study’s nature. If none fit perfectly, consider using relevant parts from more than one.

Step 3: Define Relationships

Based on your literature synthesis and reasoning, specify how the variables interact. Which ones are independent (predictors)? Which are dependent (outcomes)? Are there mediating or moderating factors? Express these relationships clearly in words.

Step 4: Create a Visual Model

Translate your reasoning into a diagram. Use boxes for variables and arrows to show direction of influence. Keep it simple and readable. For example:
Socioeconomic Status → Nutritional Intake → Anaemia Prevalence → Child Development Outcome.

Step 5: Describe It in Text

Accompany your diagram with a narrative explanation of how the components connect and why. This ensures that even without the figure, readers can follow your logic.

Step 6: Align with Research Questions

Finally, confirm that every variable and relationship in your framework corresponds to at least one research question or hypothesis. Anything that does not align should be reconsidered.

Practical Tips for Resident Researchers

  • Don’t force a theory: Choose one that genuinely fits your topic; avoid adding a theory just for appearance.
  • Use multiple theories cautiously: Combining them is fine if they complement each other, but you must justify the integration.
  • Keep the diagram clean: Overcrowded frameworks confuse rather than clarify.
  • Be explicit about directionality: Make sure arrows show which variable influences which.
  • Revisit it during analysis: Your conceptual framework is not static — it may evolve as your data tell their story.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Listing variables without showing relationships.
    A proper framework shows how concepts connect — not just a list of factors.

  2. Over-theorizing without relevance.
    Quoting famous theories that have no direct link to your study context weakens your paper.

  3. Confusing operational definitions with conceptual ones.
    Conceptual frameworks deal with ideas; operational definitions come later when designing measurements.

  4. Skipping the narrative explanation.
    A diagram alone is insufficient — always describe what it means in words.

Conclusion

A well-developed conceptual and theoretical framework is like a compass that keeps your research on course. It ensures that your study has intellectual direction, coherence, and logical consistency. Whether you are studying health outcomes, service delivery, or social determinants, your framework will demonstrate that your work stands on a solid foundation of theory and reasoned understanding.

So, before you rush into data collection, pause to ask yourself: What is the underlying logic of my study? The answer lies in your conceptual and theoretical framework.

References

  1. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
  2. Imenda, S. (2014). Is there a conceptual difference between theoretical and conceptual frameworks? Journal of Social Sciences, 38(2), 185–195.
  3. Ravitch, S. M., & Riggan, M. (2017). Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
  4. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
  5. Leshem, S., & Trafford, V. (2007). Overlooking the conceptual framework. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 44(1), 93–105.