Theoretical and conceptual frameworks provide evidence of academic standards and procedure. They also offer an explanation of why the study is pertinent and how the researcher expects to fill the gap in the literature. Grant and Osanloo (2014) described theoretical framework as a foundational framework of which all information and understanding is formed for a research process. The authors used an example of a house without blueprint, similar to a study without theoretical framework. This is similarly to say a study approach without a theoretical framework is like a house without a strong, visual foundation. A researcher is like a civil engineer which designs, plans and analyzes the model for building constructions. Conceptual framework is another form of basic framework of research that offers logical structure that connect process, and guide image of how ideas in a research relate to one another— within the theoretical framework (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Conceptual framework is a concept that bind all assumptions and rules or procedures to define a larger picture. I would call it an interior parts of building construction.
For example, the touchy advancement in the habit of social media has suggested a “gold rush”-like response from organizations. Though, businesses and salespeople are particularly undefined about the fit between social media tools and their overall sales strategy (Agnihotri, Kothandaraman, Kashyap & Singh, 2012). To address this research approach, we proposed a theoretical framework; that is a theory to guide in explaining the mechanisms through which salespeople’s use of social media functions to generate value and propose a strategic approach to social media use to achieve viable goals. The conceptual framework would describe bits and pieces of how social media tools could help salespeople perform service behaviors—leading to value creation.
Reference
Agnihotri, R., Kothandaraman, P., Kashyap, R., & Singh, R. (2012). Bringing “Social” into Sales: The Impact of Salespeople’s Social Media Use on Service Behaviors and Value Creation. Journal Of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 32(3), 333-348.
Grant, C., & Osanloo, A. (2014). Understanding, selecting, and integrating a theoretical framework in dissertation research: Creating the blueprint for your “house.” Administrative Issues Journal: Connecting Education, Practice, and Research, 4(2), 12–26.
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