Conceptual vs Theoretical Frameworks in a PhD

Conceptual framework or theoretical framework? What’s the difference, and do you actually need both in your PhD?

If these terms keep tripping you up, this video will finally make them make sense.

Conceptual and theoretical frameworks are two terms every PhD student hears constantly - and they’re often talked about as if they mean the same thing. They don’t.

In this video, I explain what each framework actually does, how they differ, and how they work together in a real research project - without jargon or abstract waffle.

You’ll learn:

What a conceptual framework is (and what it’s for)
What a theoretical framework is (and where theory fits in)
How concepts relate to theory in qualitative and social research
A concrete example using workplace performance reviews
How frameworks connect to data collection, analysis, and contribution
Why confusion around frameworks is so common in PhDs

By the end of this video, you should feel much clearer about what belongs where, and why frameworks are there to help your thinking - not trip you up.

👉 In the next video, I’ll answer a crucial follow-up question:
Do you need a conceptual framework, a theoretical framework, or both?

Chapters
0:00 Conceptual and theoretical frameworks are not the same thing
0:20 Conceptual frameworks – what they are and what they do
3:52 Theory and theoretical frameworks
6:11 How this relates to the rest of your study

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