The ultimate aim of any research methods, more or less, remains the same — to generate newer theories or to test earlier through different perspectives. Conceptual research methodology is also a form of research methods aimed either to fill knowledge gap or solve questions based on available literature.
Explaining conceptual research methodology
Conceptual research method is a scientific way of either exploring solutions or generate missed link of knowledge in the course of time.
Or, simply, conceptual research methodology aimed to address knowledge gap, any problem, or reliability of existing theories in different perspective.
But, unlike Empirical research methodology, it doesn’t rely on rigorous field work of observation and experimentation but totally depends on the analysing, observing and evaluating of already existing theories.
For conceptual research method to work, present or secondary research materials like journals, reports, case studies need to be analysed. Further, it is essential to go through all the relevant existing knowledge regarding question in consideration.
Role and importance of conceptual research methodology or method
In terms of relevancy, conceptual research method is widely used to gain market insight and to know the problems of world you live in.
For example, growing degree of addictions, urban waste management, food security, or incidents of outbreaks of new diseases are challenging the human aspirations to live comfortably.
To make lives assured, collectively, we need to tackle these potential threats by any means. Understanding the degree and intensity of problems, time taking means might not be effective. Hence, conceptual research method proves easy to address questions at hand.
Application of conceptual research methodology or method
Certaintlly, there is a common urge of easy understanding of conceptual research given the abstract nature of research means. Following is are the sequential order of steps commonly used in the conceptual research method.
Step by step understanding conceptual research methodology
Here are some steps suggested for the application of the conceptual research methodology or method.
1.Select a question as challenge
First of all, it should be clear that for what purpose you are going to apply this method. You need to delineate a goal either problem or theory. Question should be specific as general questions are hard to explore precisely, such as,
Sudden rise in road accidents.
Surging domestic violence cases.
Growing addictions of youths.
Questioning relevancy of earlier theories.
2.Analysis and evaluation of earlier theories
As I stated earlier that conceptual research method do not consider data collection by empirical means but raly on available resources. Therefore, already available relevant information act as launching pad for ongoing research.
4.Collection of secondary research materials
For better insight of issue in focus, researchers should consider secondary research materials such as reports, journals, case studies, magazines etc. to judge the exact gap.
Recently published works might prove instrumental as these things reveal exact link with ongoing problem in question.
5.Formation of theoretical framework
You need a broad range of things, including research reports, journals, earlier theories, etc. to study to build useable concepts. Because, it is the theoretical framework that pave the way for the important tool for research — Conceptual framework.
Sea floor spreading, convection current, and continental drift theories were used as theoretical framework while understanding plate tectonics.
6.Designing Conceptual framework
This is the most important thing to build concept by exploring a specific aspect of given theoretical framework.
For layman’s language, conceptual framework is a way or process by which researchers infer an outcome in the form of concept through reviewing theoretical framework.
Simply, you conceive an idea or concept of your research journey in the form of hypothesis, variables, etc.
Understanding Conceptual research framework
Quality of research you making directly depends on the means and ways you choose. Conceptual research framework is a scientific means or tools to reach at your findings or results.
Precisely, it is an evolved specific aspect of earlier broader theoretical framework. Let’s know the process of formation of Conceptual framework.
Developing Research statement
Larger theoretical framework paves the way for the more specific aspect you plan to explore. Researchers try to conceptualise the specific aspect of broader theoretical framework to deduce a specific testable hypothesis.
Such hypothesis is a deduced conclusion out of interrelated variables regarding an identified problem. In other words, it is a causal link between independent and dependent variables.
Formation of deductive hypothesis
Suppose, you are exploring the probable cause of rising addiction in youth, regarding this, all relevant recent findings about youth addictions become necessity. On the basis of collected resources (theoretical framework) you can deduce a conclusion highlighting probable causes of addictions in youth.
Prior to proposed guess, you try to create an idea regarding identified problem by the means of recent findings. Simply, you make generalization of problem in question in the form of hypothesis.
Formulating
problem statement
Exactly, the process of identifying problem statement is what we call research framework. So, delineating and identifying the research problem is the most important step in Conceptual research.
Finally, in the process of answering the questions raised by problem statements, you either create newer explanation or theory or revise existing one to justify why the incidents of addictions are rising in youth.
Then, by manipulating independent variable appropriately, effective measures could be designed to eliminate the meance of addiction.
This is all about the formation of Conceptual research framework and how to write a problem statement.
Last though by author
So far, we have understood the meaning, importance and application of the conceptual research methodology and conceptual research framework.
Besides, we have also learnt why researchers opt for conceptual research to study problems we facing. And, finally, tried honestly to find answer of how make research with the help of Conceptual research framework.
Summary of conceptual research methodology
There are two types of scientific research processes — empirical and conceptual research method.
Empirical research method relies on observation, experiments and generalization.
While Conceptual research methodology consider available sources to deduce research statement.
It aims either to fill knowledge gap or solve questions based on available literature.
Conceptual research methodology doesn’t rely on rigorous field work of observation and experimentation but totally depends on the analysing, observing and evaluating of already existing theories.
Solved questions on Conceptual research methodology
For more understanding, here are some important solved questions on this topic. Let’s take a look at following solved questions.
Q.1. What does conceptual research methodology?
Ans: Conceptual research methodology doesn’t rely on observation and experiments, but analysing, observing and evaluating of already existing theories or knowledge base.
Q.2. What is the role and importance of conceptual research?
Ans: Conceptual research method is widely used to gain market insight and to know the problems of world you live in. It is used to fill the knowledge gap to make it relevancy.
Writing hypothesis in research
Theory hypothesis and research
Empirical research methodology
Dependent and independent variables