GROUP 8 PRESENTATION

BUSINESS
RESEARCH
METHODS USINGEXAMPLES FROM BUSINESS
MBA 710 RESEARCH, DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORKS
 GROUP MEMBERS
David Takuranei
NAMES
Bridget Mandiki Brighton Nyandoro Sigauke
REGISTRATION
R211491G R212387E
NUMBER
R171493N

Ronny
Elvis Mudzengerere Francis Mapupa George Kohwa
Banhamombe
R216938C R212089A R212118J
R212841H

Terrence
Tafadzwa Chimuka Takunda Tawanda Tinashe Chibaya
Kandemiiri
R212967B R212555H R152714B
R144205Q

Shydah Shamiso
Pakachena Ngoni Bayela
R216371M R209704P
• Ngoni Bayela
INTRODUCTION
The framework justifies the study and explains the structure or design of the study.
All researches utilise both theoretical and conceptual frameworks which lay the
foundation of the study.
This means that the framework provides the essential support for the study
components.
It clarifies the study context just like the blueprint of a house.
Thus, when researchers construct the framework they not only justify and explain
the study, but they also check their understanding of the need for the study.
Some authors view conceptual and theoretical frameworks to be synonymous and
this paper seeks to evaluate the similarities and differences with specific reference to
examples from the business world.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Conceptual Framework
It refers to factors and variables that are addressed in a study.
The variables are the independent or input variable and the dependent variable.
For example: The impact of brand equity on consumer brand preference in the
funeral services sector in Zimbabwe.
The input variable is brand equity and the output variable is consumer brand
preference.
DEFINITIONS CONTINUED…
Theoretical Framework
Is based on published and indefinable theories (Ravitch and Regan, 2017).
Resides within the conceptual framework and is not synonymous with it.
Is part of the wide reading/theories that researchers come across that other
researchers used in similar researches and they select the theory which best suits
their research circumstance.
The search for a theoretical framework could be narrowed compared to the search
for conceptual framework.
Research can be guided by several theories while a conceptual framework is just
one in every research.
SIMILARITIES
They point to the reliability of the study from the previous research findings and
theories.
Both explain the future course of the research study justifying the reliability of the
study.
Both are used to understand a research problem and guide the development,
collection and analysis of the research.
They both show the relationship between ideas and theories  and how they relate to
the study.
COMPARISON
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Provides the orientation to the study and is Demonstrates the contributions of other writers to
obtained from the literature review and is a result the topic of study and is created by other scholars
of the author’s own synthesis who might have looked through the same issues
previously. It explains how a given theory is
related to the current study.

It assists the researcher to demonstrate how the It assists the researcher in demonstrating
study contributes to the available body of grounding knowledge of the subject area thereby
knowledge in the subject area. indicating that the study is immersed within
existing knowledge boundaries.
COMPARISON CONTINUED…
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Demonstrates how different elements of the study Demonstrate how the study is related to what other
align with each other in diagrammatic form. researchers have said before in relation to the
It looks at the current research problem through given topic of study.
the lens of existing knowledge on the topic and Looks into the current research problem using the
what the researcher want us to know about that lens of past relevant theories from existing
topic. literatures.

The framework is an argument for the study The aim of research is to prove or refute given
theoretical suppositions.
COMPARISON CONTINUED…
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Justifies why a given topic is worth studying and Simply links the study to existing knowledge in
why the means proposed for the study are the area thereby preventing the reinvention of the
appropriate (Ravitch and Reagan, 2017) wheel.

Explains graphically or in narrative form the main Explains in narrative form what others elsewhere
study areas to be addressed and the presumed have established and what this could mean for the
relationships among these variables (Miles et al, current research.
2014)
COMPARISON CONTINUED
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This is created by the researcher based on their Is created by other authorities on the subject area
personal experience, prior research or published to guide the current research (Maxwell, 2013).
theory to explain the various study elements.

Projects the actual ideas that the researcher holds It projects the actual ideas that other researchers
about the study hence an independent evaluation hold about the study area hence projects a
of the study area. dependent evaluation of the study area (Maxwell,
2013).
COMPARISON CONTINUED
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Is the literal meaning of the concept of the study Is based on the use of  an existing theory or
using dictionary meaning and empirical findings theories.
from other literatures. More often a theory has the originator’s name
The conceptual framework bears the name of the linked to it. E.g.. Freud’s psychosexual theory of
author who also affixes a more recent date to the human development .
conceptual framework It bears an older publication date compared to the
conceptual framework.

They may not need to be tested because it is based Theories require significant testing overtime in
on the researcher’s own interpretation of the study order to be accepted into the body of knowledge.
area. Hence theories premised on research survive the
test of time while those not based on research are
overtaken or simply replaced by new ones.
COMPARISON CONTINUED
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Provides a rationale for the study based upon Provides confirmatory evidence of the
wider literature search on the study area. researchability of a given topic (Marshall and
For example, a study on learning styles presents Rossman, 2016).
the reasons why studying a particular aspect of For example, a study on the effect of peer pressure
learning style is important, for whom the on HIV and AIDS spread among teenagers might
particular learning style might make a difference leverage upon the social learning theory by
and how the planned design elements are Bandura.
appropriate and rigorous

Presents the overall structure of the study Is part of the conceptual framework that explains
the relationships that are explained in the study
CONCLUSION
Theoretical framework simply states the theory aspect of your work, the existing,
tested and viable theories backing up your current research. Theoretical framework
is a collection of interrelated theories which guides a research work.
A conceptual framework is what informs your readers on what to expect and know
from the research. It defines the relevant variables for the study and maps out how
they relate to each other. A conceptual framework is constructed before collecting
data and often represented in a visual format. One should construct a conceptual
framework before you begin collecting data.
All researches should touch on both theoretical and conceptual frameworks to give
the foundation to the study
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