Question

Explain why a theoretical or conceptual model should be the basis of a nursing research project.

Answer 1

Nurse researchers regularly use conceptual models to design and conduct their investigations. For example from a nursing study which enrolled 138 participants between 2002 and 2006. The purpose of the paper is to describe the use of a nursing conceptual model, the Levine Conservation Model (Levine 1996), to guide the development and implementation of a randomized clinical trial. The trial tests the effects of exercise in mitigating cancer-related fatigue in individuals being treated with radiation therapy or adjuvant chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis.

A conceptual model or theoretical framework provides a coherent, unified and orderly way of envisioning related events or processes relevant to a discipline (Fawcett 2005). In research, a framework illustrates the overall conceptual design of the study. The terms ‘conceptual model’ and ‘theoretical framework’ are often used interchangeably, but a theoretical framework generally incorporates at least part of a specific theory as the basis for a study. In addition, a theoretical framework often includes propositional statements describing the relationships among variables and has received more testing than the more tentative conceptual model (Polit & Beck 2004).

The most common use of conceptual models is to provide an organizing structure for the research design and methods. A second purpose is to guide the development and testing of interventions and hypotheses based on the tenets of the theory. A third function is to explain the study results and place the findings within the context of science in a specific field of investigation. The interpretation of findings flows from the conceptualization represented by the framework (Radwin & Fawcett 2002, Polit & Beck 2004).

At its most fundamental, a conceptual model is composed of concepts and the theoretical linkages between them which together describe a particular relationship between two or more concepts. Concepts are connected in a theory by verbal or mathematical statements called propositions. Research hypotheses are derived from these propositions, in that hypotheses describe a presumed relationship between two or more measures of concepts in the conceptual model (Fawcett 1978). Testing hypotheses in the context of a study can be expected to yield information about the validity of the propositions in the underlying theory, and thus the relationships between the concepts under investigation. This information can be added to the evidence in support (or in refutation) of the theory and builds the science related to the concepts being studied (Fawcett 2005).

The theoretical and conceptual framework explains the path of a research and grounds it firmly in theoretical constructs. The overall aim of the two frameworks is to make research findings more meaningful, acceptable to the theoretical constructs in the research field and ensures generalizability. They assist in stimulating research while ensuring the extension of knowledge by providing both direction and impetus to the research inquiry. They also enhance the empiricism and rigor of a research. Thus, it is no exaggeration for Imenda (2014) to say that both the theoretical and conceptual frameworks give life to a research. Unfortunately, many postgraduate students and faculty staff at universities are confused of the two terms and apply them wrongly in their research papers. As a result, their research findings become weak because of the inappropriate application of a suitable theoretical framework and/or conceptual framework. This blurs the understanding of readers of the research paper who are lost, not knowing the purpose of the study, the importance of the study and the scholars the researcher is in dialogue with, whether in agreement or disagreement (Evan, 2007). A research without the theoretical or conceptual framework makes it difficult for readers in ascertaining the academic position and the underlying factors to the researcher's assertions and/or hypotheses. This renders the research sloppy and not appreciable as contributing significantly to the advancement of the frontiers of knowledge. This article explains with clear understanding, the two frameworks and how they could be utilized efficiently in the research expedition

The Importance of Theoretical Framework in Research

The theoretical framework offers several benefits to a research work. Itprovides the structure in showing how a researcher defines his/herstudy philosophically, epistemologically, methodology an danalytically (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). Ravitch and Carl (2016) concurthat the theoretical framework assist researchers in situating andcontextualizing formal theories into their studies as a guide. This positions their studies in scholarly and academic fashion. Moreover,the theoretical framework serves as the focus for the research and it islinked to the research problem under study. Therefore, it guides aresearcher’s choice of research design and data analysis plan. The theoretical framework also guides the kind of data to be accrued for particular study (Lester, 2005). The theoretical framework, thus, aidsthe researcher in finding an appropriate research approach, analytical tools and procedures for his/her research inquiry. It makes research findings more meaningful and generalizable (Akintoye, 2015). Imenda(2014) clearly posits that a research without the theoretical framework lacks accurate direction to the search of appropriate literature andscholarly discussions of the findings from the research. For other scholars in the field of inquiry, the theoretical framework provides a common worldview or lens from which to support one’s thinking about the problem and analysis of data (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). The theoretical framework guides and should resonate with everyaspect of the research process from the definition of the problem, literature survey, methodology, presentation and discussion of the findings as well as the conclusions that are drawn. Eisenhart (1991)contends that the theoretical framework helps the researcher in considering alternative theories that might challenge his or her perspective, thereby enriching the strengths of the study. Simon and Goes (2011) as well as Maxwell (2004) aver tha t theoretical frameworks deepen the essence of the study. Thus, research proposals that require funding must clearly show the theoretical framework that pivots the intended research. It convinces funding agencies that the research inquiry is worth supporting. For scholars in the field and readers, the proper selection and presence of a theoretical framework convinces them that the study is not based on the personal instincts of the researcher but rather is firmly rooted in an established theory selected via credible studies (Akintoye, 2015)

The Importance of Conceptual Framework in Research

The conceptual framework offers many benefits to a research. For instance, it assists the researcher in identifying and constructing his/her worldview on the phenomenon to be investigated (Grant & Osanloo, 2014). It is the simplest way through which a researcher presents his/her asserted remedies to the problem s/he has defined (Liehr & Smith, 1999; Akintoye, 2015). It accentuates the reasons why a research topic is worth studying, the assumptions of a researcher, the scholars s/he agrees with and disagrees with and how s/he conceptually grounds his/her approach (Evans, 2007). Akintoye (2015) posits that the conceptual framework is mostly used by researchers when existing theories are not applicable or sufficient in creating a firm structure for the study.