Definition
A conceptual framework is a “network, or “a plane,” of interlinked concepts that
together provide a comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon or
phenomena”.
Jabareen
(2009:51)
“A conceptual framework is an argument that the concepts chosen for
investigation, and any anticipated relationships among them, will be appropriate
and useful given the research problem under investigation”.
Lester
(2005:460)
“A conceptual framework explains either graphically or in a narrative form, the
main things to be studied-the key factors, constructs or variable – and the
presumed relationships among them. Frameworks can be rudimentary or
elaborate, theory-driven or commonsensical, descriptive or casual”.
Miles &
Huberman
(1994:18)
A conceptual framework is “the system of concepts, assumptions, expectations,
beliefs and theories that supports and informs your research...”
Maxwell
(1996:25)
The conceptual framework, as both a process and a framework that helps to direct
and ground researchers, is “an argument about why the topic of a study matters,
and why the methods proposed to study it are appropriate and rigorous”.
Ravitch &
Riggan (2012)
“A conceptual framework, which is simply a less developed form of a theory,
consists of statements that link abstract concepts to empirical data. Theories and
conceptual frameworks are developed to account for or describe abstract
phenomena that occur under similar conditions”.
Rudestam &
Newton
(1992:6)
“A conceptual framework explains either graphically or in a narrative form, the
main dimensions to be studied − the key factors or variables and the presumed
relationships. A framework can be rudimentary or elaborate, theory driven or
Van der Walt
(2003) commonsensical, descriptive or causal”.
“A ‘conceptual framework’ can be distinguished from a theoretical framework in
that it is a less-developed explanation of events”.
Vithal, Jansen &
Jansen
(2013:19)
A conceptual framework is the researcher’s idea on how the research problem will have to be explored. This is founded on the theoretical framework, which lies on a much broader scale of resolution. The theoretical framework dwells on time tested theories that embody the findings of numerous investigations on how phenomena occur.
The theoretical framework describes a broader relationship between things.
The conceptual framework specifies the variables that will have to be explored in the investigation.