What Is a Conceptual Framework in Research?

¶ … construct which "explains, either graphically or in narrative form, the main things to be studied -- the key factors, concepts, or variables -- and the presumed relationships among them" (Miles & Huberman 1994, cited in Chapter 3: 39). In the case of my qualitative research, one critical component of the conceptual framework is the relationship between gender and a person's propensity to be the victim of human trafficking. Women are presumed to make up the majority of persons who are the victims of human trafficking.

Whether this is because the types of trafficking to which they are subjected are more likely to be discovered or because this is actually the case is somewhat controversial and will be one of the focal areas of my research. The fact that women are more likely to be trafficked than males seems logical. Women are more apt to be poor and vulnerable, specifically in the developing world. This has caused many to speak of the 'feminization of poverty' worldwide.

The sex trade is also a major part of the reason people are trafficked although not the only reason. However, some authors believe that the number of male victims is underrepresented because nonsexual labor exploitation garners less press and is more likely to fly under the legal 'radar.' Regardless of this is the case, the concept of gender clearly influences who is trafficked and why and how the subject is perceived through the eyes of researchers.

Thus a feminist conceptual lens seems warranted: feminists stress the degree to which gender norms (both male and female) influence the ways in which a particular phenomenon is viewed. An analysis of the impact of social class will also be important. A presumption of the research conceptual framework is that class is a relevant consideration, since there is overwhelming evidence in the research literature that persons who are trafficked are socially disadvantaged.

They are often lured with the prospect of legitimate employment and then find themselves forced to work in the sex industry or for no wages (Hepburn & Simon 2010). Class will be analyzed from a globalized viewpoint: not simply in terms of the haves and the have-nots within a particular nation but also worldwide, as victims of the developing world are commonly trafficked to areas of the developed world. A "conceptual framework for your research is something that is constructed, not found.

It incorporates pieces that are borrowed from elsewhere, but the structure, the overall coherence, is something that you build, not something that exists ready-made" (Chapter 3: 41). Another element to my research is its analysis of the discrepancy between the data that is available and what is actually occurring. Human trafficking is a crime that takes place in the shadows and many aspects of trafficking may be currently undetected, causing an imbalanced view of gender and how trafficking occurs and why.

Most research literature admits that there is a great deal of variation in terms of data on trafficking. Even if I cannot come to a conclusion about the exact numbers myself, pointing out such discrepancies in different sources will be valuable. Finally, there will also be an acknowledgement of the differences between countries regarding trafficking.