Models are key to the successful conduct of quantitative research. In general, theoretical and conceptual models are the most common models needed for the clear illustration of concepts and relationships under study. The following 10 steps provide guidance on the development of quantitative research models:

 

Steps in formulating a conceptual model (From existing literature)

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1. Identify and define your dependent variables. These should be the outcome(s) of the phenomenon you are interested in better understanding. They should be the effected thing(s) in your research questions.                                                                                                                              

2. Figure out why explaining and predicting these DVs is important.

   1. Why should we care?

   2. For whom will it make a difference?

   3. What can we possibly contribute to knowledge that is not already known?

   4. If these are all answerable and suggest continuing the study, then go to #3, otherwise, go to #1 and try different DVs.                                                                                                                 

3. Form one or two research questions around explaining and predicting these DVs.

   1. Scoping your research questions may also require you to identify your population.                        

4. Is there some existing theory that would help explore these research questions?

   1. If so, then how can we adopt it for specifically exploring these research questions?

   2. Does that theory also suggest other variables we are not considering?                                              

5. What do you think (and what has research said) impacts the DVs we have chosen?

   1. These become IVs.                                                                                                                              

6. What is it about these IVs that is causing the effect on the DVs?

   1. These become Mediators.                                                                                                                       

7. Do these relationships depend on other factors, such as age, gender, race, religion, industry, organization size and performance, etc.?

   1. These become Moderators                                                                                                                         

8. What variables could potentially explain and predict the DVs, but are not directly related to our interests?

   1. These become control variables. These are often some of those moderators like age and gender, or variables in extant literature.                                                                                                                     

9. Identify your population.

   1. Do you have access to this population?

   2. Why is this population appropriate to sample in order to answer the research questions?              

10. Based on all of the above, but particularly #4, develop an initial conceptual model involving the IVs, DVs, Mediators, Moderators, and Controls.

    1. If tested, how will this model contribute to research (make us think differently) and practice (make us act differently)?

 

 

CALL TO ACTION: Now it’s your turn. Use the 10 steps outlined above to develop a suitable conceptual framework for your research.

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(Culled from SW)