Which comes first: Conceptual Framework or Literature Review?

Which step typically comes before the conceptual framework in the research process?

The literature review typically comes before the conceptual framework in the research process.

Literature Review

The literature review typically comes first in the research process. It involves gathering and analyzing existing research, articles, and other relevant sources related to the topic of study. The main purpose of the literature review is to understand what has already been studied and what knowledge already exists on the topic. This step helps researchers identify gaps in the current understanding and formulate research questions that will contribute new insights to the field.

Conceptual Framework

A conceptual framework is developed after the literature review. It is a visual representation or model that outlines the key concepts, variables, and relationships to be explored in the research. The conceptual framework serves as a theoretical foundation for the study, guiding the research design, data collection, and analysis. It helps researchers structure their study and provides a framework for interpreting the findings.

Summary

In summary, the literature review comes first in the research process to familiarize researchers with existing knowledge and identify gaps in the current understanding. Once the literature review is completed, researchers can then develop a conceptual framework to structure and guide their own research.
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