The name of the conceptual framework in which research is carried out is typically referred to as the "Conceptual Framework" or sometimes the "Theoretical Framework."
- A Conceptual Framework is a structure that represents the researcher's understanding of the research problem, including key concepts, variables, and the relationships between them. It guides the research by helping to formulate research questions, select methods, and interpret findings. It is often constructed by synthesizing concepts from various theories tailored specifically for the study at hand
- A Theoretical Framework is based on an existing, well-established theory that explains the phenomena under study. It provides a theoretical foundation for the research and is chosen by examining relevant theories commonly used in the field
The two frameworks serve similar purposes-to provide a vision and structure for the study-but differ in that the theoretical framework relies on a single established theory, while the conceptual framework is often a custom-built model combining multiple concepts. Usually, a research project uses either a conceptual or a theoretical framework, not both, to avoid confusion
. In summary, the conceptual framework is the overarching structure guiding the research, encompassing research questions, variables, and their interrelationships, and it may be visual, written, or mathematical in form
