Post an explanation of how Grant and Osanloo (2014) describe the differences between conceptual and a theoretical framework. Support your explanation with examples from the article as well as from your texts.

Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 2, “Using Conceptual Frameworks in Research” (pp. 33–63)
• Chapter 3, “Critical Qualitative Research Design” (pp. 65–110) (focus on pp. 85–89)

Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 1, “Listening, Hearing, and Sharing” (pp. 1–11)
• Chapter 2, “Research Philosophy and Qualitative Interviews” (pp. 13–24)

Walden University Writing Center. (2015). Common course assignments: Annotated bibliographies. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/annotatedbibliographies
Use this website to help you as you create your Annotated Bibliography for your Major Assignment 1.

Walden University. (n.d.). How do I write an annotated bibliography? Retrieved from http://academicanswers.waldenu.edu/faq/72682
Use this website to help you as you create your Annotated Bibliography for your Major Assignment 1.

Walden University Writing Center. (2012, October 30). Weathering the storm…of problem statements [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/weathering-storm-of-problem-statements.html
Use this website to help you as you write your problem statement for your Major Assignment 1.

Walden University Library. (n.d.). Course guide and assignment help for RSCH 8310. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/rsch8310

Document: Video Field Notes Guide (Word document)
Use this guide to help you as you take notes for your Scholar of Change video.

Document: Major Assignment 1: Developing a Research Topic for a Qualitative Study Overview and Guidelines (PDF)
Use this document to guide you as you develop Part 1 for this Major Assignment.

Answer preview

theoretical framework is flexible since a researcher can use different research methods to gather information such as the mixed methodologies, quantitative and qualitative research designs (Ravitch, & Carl, 2016). On the other hand, the conceptual framework is more structured where the ideas are linked to create a visual image. Such an aspect helps a reader to understand the topic under study in an ontological and epistemological approach. In this case, the connection of the concepts in the conceptual framework creates a smooth flow of information in the written content which is symbolized with a floor plan (Grant, & Osanloo, 2014). In this case, one gets to know how the elements in the house such as a toilet, kitchen, and doors are connected. Therefore, once a student has identified the conceptual framework to use in his/her academic writing or dissertation, then, the student manages to write a topic that readers can understand and visualize. The researcher has to modify the concepts so that they can fit the nature of the subject and this shows that the conceptual framework is not as flexible as the theoretical framework.

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