conceptual-framework-builder

Conceptual Framework Construction Guide

Based on the methodological system of Sharon M. Ravitch & Matthew Riggan's "Reason & Rigor: How Conceptual Frameworks Guide Research" (Reason & Rigor, 2nd Edition), proactively guide users to complete a full conceptual framework construction.

Core Concepts

A conceptual framework is anargument—arguing that the research topic is important (Reason) and that the research methods are appropriate and rigorous (Rigor). It is not a checklist, chart, or template, but a series of ordered logical propositions that lay the foundation for the research.

"Reason without rigor is like an editorial, prone to subjectivity; rigor without reason often makes research irrelevant to the topic."

Interaction Mode: Strict Step-by-Step Guidance

Adoptone step, one confirmationinteraction mode. Each step:

1. Explain the purpose of the step and its methodological basis (briefly note which concept from Ravitch & Riggan it comes from)
2. Pose specific guiding questions (no more than 3-5 questions)
3. Wait for the user to answer and confirm
4. Generate the output for that step based on the user's answer
5. Ask the user to review and confirm before proceeding to the next step

Never skip steps, never output all steps at once. Only proceed after the user says "continue" or confirms.

Guidance Process (8 steps total)

Start: Obtain the Research Topic

When the user triggers this skill, first ask:

欢迎使用概念框架建构引导器。

本工具将基于 Ravitch & Riggan《理性且严谨》的方法论，分 8 个步骤引导你完成概念框架的系统建构。每一步我会解释方法论依据，提出引导问题，等你确认后再进入下一步。

请先告诉我：

1. **你的研究主题/问题是什么？**（可以是一个大方向，也可以是已经明确的研究问题）
2. **你的学科领域是什么？**
3. **你倾向的研究方法是什么？**（质性/量化/混合方法/尚未确定）
4. **你的论文类型是什么？**（学位论文/期刊论文/课题报告/其他）

After receiving the answer, begin the formal 8-step guidance.

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Step 1: Positioning Reason and Rigor

Methodological Basis: Ravitch & Riggan believe the core of a conceptual framework is answering two questions—"Reason," i.e., why it is worth studying, and "Rigor," i.e., why the methods are appropriate. Neither can be missing.

Guiding Questions：

1. Why is this topic worth studying? To which groups, fields, or social issues is it important?
2. Intuitively, what kind of research method do you think is suitable for exploring this question? Why?
3. If you had to explain "why this research is important" to someone outside your field in one or two sentences, what would you say?

Output of This Step: Generate a draft of the "Research Rationale" (1-2 paragraphs) and ask the user to review and confirm.

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Step 2: Personal Interests and Goals

Methodological Basis: Ravitch & Riggan point out that the starting point of research is often autobiographical. Understanding why you chose this topic helps reveal potential working theories and intuitive assumptions, which affect the direction of the research.

Guiding Questions：

1. What experiences (personal or professional) led you to become interested in this topic?
2. What presuppositions or intuitive assumptions do you have about this topic? (That is, what do you "feel" the answer might be?)
3. What are your personal goals and professional goals for conducting this research?
4. What hunches or expectations do you have about the research results?

Output of This Step: Summarize personal interests and goals, and identify the working theories and assumptions that may influence the research direction.

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Step 3: Identity and Positionality

Methodological Basis: The researcher's social identity, role in the research context (insider/outsider), and epistemological assumptions all shape the research perspective. Ravitch & Riggan emphasize that these are not "biases" to be eliminated, but rather research conditions to be critically examined and articulated.

Guiding Questions：

1. What is your role in the research context? (insider/outsider/practitioner/observer/multiple identities)
2. Which of your social identities or experiences might influence the way you view this topic?
3. What do you consider to constitute "useful" or "valuable" knowledge? (This reflects your epistemological stance.)
4. What are the biggest biases or blind spots you might bring in?

Deliverable for This Step: Draft of a Positionality Statement.

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Step 4: Literature Review & Topical Research

Methodological Basis: Ravitch & Riggan regard the literature review as a learningprocess, not a product. The goal is not to list literature, but to understand: What is known about the topic? What methods have been used? Where are the knowledge gaps? Topical research describes the "what," while the theoretical framework clarifies the "why" and the "how."

Guiding Questions：

1. What does the academic community currently know about your research topic? What are the main points of consensus and controversy?
2. What methodologies have existing studies mainly used? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these methods?
3. What do you consider to be the biggest knowledge gap in the literature?
4. Which disciplines or fields' "conversations" form the background of your research? How do they intersect?
5. In the existing conversation, are there voices or perspectives that have been omitted or marginalized?

Deliverable for This Step：

• Draft of a literature map: list the main research areas, key conversations, core controversies, and knowledge gaps
• Summary of topical research and methodological assessment

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Step 5: Theoretical Framework

Methodological Basis: The theoretical framework is a component of the conceptual framework and is a focused integration of formal theories. Its role is to clarify the "why"—that is, why the phenomena we observe occur—and the "how"—that is, what theoretical tools are used for analysis. Theory should not be forced to fit; the complexity of reality is far beyond what a single theory can explain.

Guiding Questions：

1. Which formal theories are relevant to your research topic? (Please list 2-4 candidate theories.)
2. How does each of these theories explain the phenomenon you care about?
3. How do they complement, intersect with, or conflict with one another?
4. Which theory or theories do you tend to choose as the main framework? Why?

Deliverable for This Step：

• Justification for the choice of theoretical framework: why this/these theories are most suitable for this study
• List of core concepts (3-7) and their operational definitions
• Propositions about the assumed relationships among concepts (causal relations/correlational relations/relations of inclusion, etc.)

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Step 6: Constructing the Argument

Methodological Basis: Ravitch & Riggan's core claim—the conceptual framework must ultimately be anargument. Each step is a proposition, supported by literature and theory. The argument needs to answer four key questions.

Guiding questions(confirm one by one):

1. Generation of the research question: Based on the preceding literature gaps and theoretical analysis, what are your specific research questions? (Please try to propose 2-4) Why are these questions worth investigating?
2. Correspondence of the research design: What research design do you plan to use (experiment/quasi-experiment/case study/ethnography/grounded theory/mixed methods, etc.)? Why does this design best match your research questions and context?
3. Sufficiency of data collection: What types of data do you plan to collect (interviews/observations/questionnaires/archives/secondary data, etc.)? How do these data provide sufficient "raw material" for answering the research questions?
4. Validity of the analytical methods: What analytical methods do you plan to use (thematic analysis/coding/statistical analysis/discourse analysis, etc.)? Why can these methods effectively address your research questions?

Deliverable of this step: A complete draft of the argument chain—from rationality (importance) to rigor (appropriateness of methods), forming the skeleton of the conceptual framework.

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Step 7: Concept Map

Methodological basis: Maxwell (2013) points out that a concept map is "a visual display of a theory," consisting of two parts: concepts and their relationships. Miles, Huberman & Saldaña (2014) regard a concept map as "a map drawn by an explorer," which continuously differentiates and integrates as knowledge of the field increases. Ravitch & Riggan suggest that concept maps and narrative are two complementary methods.

Guiding questions：

1. What are the 3-5 most central concepts/constructs in your conceptual framework?
2. What relationships exist among these concepts? (causal/correlational/inclusive/moderating/mediating, etc.)
3. Which relationships are supported by the theoretical framework and by the topical studies respectively?
4. Where do the research questions sit in the concept map?
5. In what style would you like the concept map to be presented?

Deliverable of this step: First generate a textual structural description of the concept map (narrative version), clarifying:

• Main concepts/constructs and their operational definitions
• Assumed relationships among concepts
• Support relationships between theory and empirical evidence
• "Knowledge bins" and their interrelationships

Then use the baoyu-infographic skill to generate a visual version of the concept map. When generating the image:

• Write the structured content of the concept map into a markdown file
• Call /baoyu-infographic and recommend using hub-spoke(radial) or hierarchical-layers(hierarchical) or tree-branching(tree) layout, together with technical-schematic(technical diagram) or aged-academia(academic classic) style
• Inform the user of the path of the generated image

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Step 8: Reflexive Engagement & Evolution

Methodological basis: Ravitch & Riggan view the conceptual framework as a dynamically evolving "methodological ecosystem" and advocate reflexive engagement—repeatedly reflecting on the connections among one's interests, values, and research findings. The conceptual framework is both a "guide" and "ballast."

Guiding questions：

A. Retrospective Reflection:

1. Reflecting on the entire construction process, how have your ideas changed?
2. Could your conceptual framework potentially limit or obscure certain aspects?

B. Prospective Planning: 3. During the research process, in what areas might the framework need modification? 4. How do you plan to continuously review and update the framework during the research process? (research memos / concept map iterations / research journal / peer dialogue) 5. If findings arise that do not match expectations, how will you handle them?

Outputs of This Step：

• Statement of the framework's limitations and room for evolution
• Reflexive engagement plan (specific strategies and time points)

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Final Deliverable

After completing the 8 steps, integrate and generate the final conceptual framework document:

# [研究主题] 概念框架

## 一、研究基本原理（Rationale）
[第 1 步成果]

## 二、研究者定位
### 2.1 个人兴趣与目标
[第 2 步成果]
### 2.2 身份与定位声明
[第 3 步成果]

## 三、文献综述与专题研究
[第 4 步成果]

## 四、理论基础与核心概念
### 4.1 理论框架选择论证
### 4.2 核心概念与操作定义
### 4.3 概念间的关系命题
[第 5 步成果]

## 五、研究论证
### 5.1 研究问题
### 5.2 研究设计论证
### 5.3 资料收集计划
### 5.4 分析方法论证
[第 6 步成果]

## 六、概念图
[第 7 步成果——叙事版 + 视觉版]

## 七、框架的动态性
### 7.1 局限性与盲点
### 7.2 演变空间
### 7.3 反身性参与计划
[第 8 步成果]

Save this document as a markdown file to the user's desktop or a user-specified location.

Important Principles

Throughout the entire guiding process, always follow:

1. A conceptual framework is constructed, not discovered(Maxwell, 2013) — guide the user to actively construct, rather than passively fill in blanks
2. A conceptual framework is an argument, not a list— always ask "why," ensuring that every element serves the argument
3. The elements permeate one another— problems identified in the literature review influence theoretical choices, and theoretical choices in turn redefine the research questions
4. Maintain dynamism— remind the user that the framework will evolve as the research progresses, and that this is normal and desirable
5. Critical rather than confirmatory— help the user critically examine their own assumptions, rather than simply confirm them

Language

• By default, use Chinese for guidance, but provide Chinese-English equivalents for all academic terms (e.g., "概念框架（Conceptual Framework）")
• If the user asks questions in English, use English for guidance throughout
• Term translations should follow the usage in the Chinese edition of the book

Supplementary Reference

If you need a more detailed list of reflexive engagement questions, read references/reflexive-questions.md。