Conceptual Framework
Methodology & design
A diagram or narrative showing the variables in a study and the hypothesised relationships between them, derived from theory and literature.
A conceptual framework is the specific map of your own study: the constructs you are investigating, the directional relationships you expect between them, and the hypotheses those relationships generate. It is usually presented as a diagram with boxes for constructs and arrows for hypothesised paths.
It differs from a theoretical framework, which is the established body of theory you are borrowing from. The theoretical framework explains why the relationships should exist; the conceptual framework states exactly which ones you will test in this study, with this population and these measures.
Build it after the literature review, not before — each arrow should be traceable to prior findings or a clearly argued gap. Label every path (H1, H2, H3) so the diagram, the hypothesis list and the results chapter line up. Examiners frequently open at this figure to judge whether the study is coherent.
Where it's used
- Anchoring hypotheses in a quantitative thesis
- Structuring the literature review's destination
Related concepts
Guides that use this concept
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