How To Make
Conceptual
Framework
What Is a Conceptual Framework?
A conceptual framework shows
the relationship between the
variables of your study. It includes
a visual diagram or a model that
summarizes the concepts of your
study and a narrative explanation
of the model presented.
How To Make Conceptual Framework: 4 Steps
1. Identify the Important Variables of Your Study
There are two essential variables that you must identify
in your study: the independent and the dependent
variables.
An independent variable is a variable that you can
manipulate. It can affect the dependent variable.
Meanwhile, the dependent variable is the resulting
variable that you are measuring.
You may refer to your research question to determine
your research’s independent and dependent variables.
Suppose your research question is:
“Is There a Significant Relationship
Between the Quantity of Organic
Fertilizer Used and the Plant’s
Growth Rate?”
The independent variable of this
study is the quantity of organic
fertilizer used, while the dependent
variable is the plant’s growth rate.
2. Think About How the Variables Are Related
Usually, the variables of a study have a direct relationship.
If a change in one of your variables leads to a
corresponding change in another, they might have this
kind of relationship.
However, note that having a direct relationship between
variables does not mean they already have a cause-and-
effect relationship. It takes statistical analysis to prove
causation between variables.
Using our example earlier, the quantity of organic fertilizer
may directly relate to the plant’s growth rate. However, we
are not sure that the quantity of organic fertilizer is the
sole reason for the plant’s growth rate changes.
3. Analyze and Determine Other
Influencing Variables
Consider analyzing if other variables can
affect the relationship between your
independent and dependent variables.
4. Create a Visual Diagram or a Model
Now that you’ve identified the variables
and their relationship, you may create a
visual diagram summarizing them.
Usually, shapes such as rectangles,
circles, and arrows are used for the
model. You may create a visual diagram
or model for your conceptual framework
in different ways.
The three most common models are the
independent-dependent variable
model, the input-process-output
(IPO) model, and concept maps.
Independent-Dependent
variable model
You may create this model by writing the independent
and dependent variables inside rectangles. Then, insert a
line segment between them, connecting the rectangles. This
line segment indicates the direct relationship between these
variables.
Below is a visual diagram based on our example about
the relationship between organic fertilizer and a plant’s
growth rate.
Input-Process-Output (IPO)
Model
If you want to emphasize your research process, the input-
process-output model is the appropriate visual diagram for
your conceptual framework.
To create your visual diagram using the IPO model, follow
these steps:
[Link] the inputs of your study. Inputs are the
variables you will use to arrive at your research result.
Usually, your independent variables are also the inputs of
your research. Let’s say your research is about the Level of
Satisfaction of College Students Using Google Classroom as
an Online Learning Platform. You may include in your inputs
the profile of your respondents and the curriculum used in
the online learning platform.
2. Outline your research process. Using our
example above, the research process should be like
this: Data collection of student profiles →
Administering questionnaires → Tabulation of
students’ responses → Statistical data analysis.
3. State the research output. Indicate what you
are expecting after you conduct the research. In our
example above, the research output is the assessed
level of satisfaction of college students with the use
of Google Classroom as an online learning platform.
4. Create the model using the research’s
determined input, process, and output.
Concept Maps
If you think the two models presented previously
are insufficient to summarize your study’s concepts,
you may use a concept map for your visual diagram.
A concept map is a helpful visual diagram if
multiple variables affect one another.
Let’s say your research is about Coping with
the Remote Learning System: Anxiety Levels of
College Students. Presented below is the
concept map for the research’s conceptual
framework:
5. Explain Your Conceptual Framework in
Narrative Form
Provide a brief explanation of your conceptual framework.
State the essential variables, their relationship, and the
research outcome.
Using the same example about the relationship between
organic fertilizer and the growth rate of the plant, we can
come up with the following explanation to accompany the
conceptual framework:
Figure 1 shows the Conceptual Framework of the study. The
quantity of the organic fertilizer used is the independent
variable, while the plant’s growth is the research’s dependent
variable. These two variables are directly related based on
the research’s empirical evidence.
Conceptual Framework in
Quantitative Research
Usually, for quantitative research, the Input-Process-
Output model is used as a visual diagram. Here is an
example of a conceptual framework in quantitative
research:
Research Topic: Level of Effectiveness of Corn (Zea
mays) Silk Ethanol Extract as an Antioxidant
Conceptual Framework in Qualitative Research
Again, you can follow the same step-by-
step guide discussed previously to create a
conceptual framework for qualitative
research. However, note that you
should avoid using one-way arrows as
they may indicate causation. Qualitative
research cannot prove causation since it
uses only descriptive and narrative analysis
to relate variables.
Research Topic: Lived Experiences of Medical
Health Workers During Community Quarantine
Research Topic: Factors Affecting
the Satisfaction Level of Community
Inhabitants
Figure 1 presents a visual illustration of the
factors that affect the satisfaction level of
community inhabitants. As presented,
environmental, societal, and economic
factors influence the satisfaction level of
community inhabitants. Each factor has its
indicators which are considered in this study.
