Joseph KK Ho e-resources: A brief note on theoretical framework and conceptual framework in Housing Studies dissertation project works

A brief note on theoretical framework and conceptual framework in Housing Studies dissertation project works (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "It appears that a conceptual framework comprises a set of related variables while a theoretical framework is made up of a set of related concepts and theories. My question is, what purposes do they serve in a Housing Studies dissertation project work?"

The reply: "In a Housing Studies dissertation, the conceptual framework and theoretical framework serve distinct but complementary purposes:

Theoretical Framework: This provides the broader theoretical lens and foundation for the study. It connects the research topic to established theories, guiding the overall understanding, approach, and interpretation of data. It situates the research within existing knowledge and helps reveal underlying principles and explanations related to housing phenomena.
Conceptual Framework: This outlines and visualizes the specific concepts, variables, and their presumed relationships that the study will investigate. It acts as a roadmap for the research by specifying which data to collect, how to analyze it, and how these variables tie back to the research questions. It operationalizes abstract theories into concrete empirical observations tailored to the study context, helping to guide data collection and analysis.

In Housing Studies, the theoretical framework might include broad theories related to housing behavior, market dynamics, or social aspects of housing, while the conceptual framework would detail the particular housing variables or constructs the dissertation focuses on (e.g., affordability, housing satisfaction, relocation decisions) and how these are expected to relate.

Together, they help researchers build a coherent study: the theoretical framework shapes the overarching perspective, and the conceptual framework provides a practical structure to carry out the research, ensuring the study is grounded in theory yet oriented toward empirical inquiry relevant to housing issues.

This dual framework approach enhances clarity, rigor, and relevance in a Housing Studies dissertation project."

My question 2: "Please provide an illustrative example on what a theoretical framework would look like and another illustrative example on what a conceptual framework would look like with reference to a research theme of "the empirically available variables and the underlying causal mechanisms that influence the Hong Kong middle class citizens' confidence to purchase a residential apartment as well as the apartment ownership arrangement (e.g. shared ownership or not)."

The reply: "To illustrate for the research theme "the empirically available variables and the underlying causal mechanisms that influence the Hong Kong middle class citizens' confidence to purchase a residential apartment as well as the apartment ownership arrangement (e.g. shared ownership or not)":

Theoretical Framework Example:

This would include broad theories explaining consumer confidence and housing market behavior. For example, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) could be used to explain how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control shape middle-class Hong Kong citizens' intention and confidence to purchase property. Additionally, Housing Market Theory including affordability and socio-economic status frameworks would ground the understanding of ownership preferences such as shared ownership. These theories help conceptualize the causal mechanisms behind housing confidence and ownership decisions in socio-economic and psychological terms.

Conceptual Framework Example:

This translates theory into study-specific variables and presumed relationships. The conceptual framework might include variables such as:

Independent variables: Income level, mortgage interest rates, government housing policies, perceived housing affordability, social norms about homeownership
Mediating variables: Consumer confidence, perceived risks in the housing market
Dependent variables: Decision to purchase residential apartment, choice of ownership arrangement (sole ownership vs shared ownership)

The framework would illustrate how income level and government policy affect perceived affordability, which then influences consumer confidence. Consumer confidence affects the intention and decision to buy and the preferred ownership type. Visual arrows would represent these causal pathways based on theory and empirical literature.

This combined framework helps guide data collection (e.g., surveys on these variables), analysis, and interpretation in the dissertation, linking general housing theories to measurable constructs relevant specifically to Hong Kong's middle-class housing market context."

My question 3: "Where would a theoretical framework be located in the Housing Studies dissertation report: chapter 2 (literature review) or chapter 3 (Research methodology)? How about a conceptual framework?"

The reply: "In a Housing Studies dissertation report:

The theoretical framework is often presented in a separate chapter following the literature review or incorporated at the end of Chapter 2 (Literature Review). This chapter first reviews existing studies and theories relevant to the research topic, and then constructs a comprehensive theoretical framework that explains the key concepts, their interrelationships, and underlying causal mechanisms pertinent to the study. This positioning helps situate the study within the broader academic discourse and justifies the theoretical basis before moving to methodology.
The conceptual framework is typically located in Chapter 3 (Research Methodology). After establishing the theoretical foundations, the conceptual framework operationalizes those theories by defining the specific variables, constructs, and hypothesized relationships that the study will empirically investigate. This guides the design of data collection instruments and analysis methods tailored for the housing context being studied.

This structure aligns well with academic practice in Housing Studies by first grounding the research in established theory and then applying that theory through a focused conceptual framework in the methodology chapter. It provides clarity and rigor by distinguishing the broader explanatory lens (theoretical framework) from the practical research design (conceptual framework)."

An example of a theoretical framework (on space consumption) (re: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Theoretical-framework-employed-in-this-study-The-decision-to-move-and-the-choice-of-a_fig1_354561927)