A conceptual framework is the model or theory on which you base your study. 

For example, my work in computer assisted language learning is based on a conceptual framework of Constructivism.

Depending on your study, you might have more than one model or theory that plays a role in the goals, design, or analysts of your study. 

But a conceptual framework is not just a rubric.  It is the concepts or ideas on which your study is based.

Dear Cletus,

Indubitably, unprecedented changes in the sociopolitical atmosphere of a large number of countries  have escalated the need for skilled workers. Under such perspectivization, designing training programs for vocational/ technical purposes necessitate a conceptual framework.This framework should involves the following components:

1) Principles that specify the preferred needs and practices,

2) Assumptions about the required activities decided by vocational educators,

3) Theoretical underpinnings of technical/vocational activities

4) Specification of  activity- gr5adation though carefully selected formats of presentation,

5) Prediction of possible problems,

6) Assessment and evaluation of the targeted outcomes.

Best regards,

R. Biria

Cletus:

My area is Workforce Education that includes TVET. Attached are studies that applied  different conceptual frameworks for TVET that I hope can be useful in answering your question.

Article Integrating Cross-Cultural Elements Into Workforce Education...

The foundation of vocational eduction in the United States was primarily laid by Charles Prosser. In 1925 Prosser and Charles Allen published Vocational Education in a Democracy. New York: Century. This book sets foth the philosophy that still today largely provides the conceptual framework for what is now called "career and technical education" in the US. 

For more information on the emergence of school-based vocational training in the U.S., American Education and Vocationalism by Marvin Lazerson and W. Norton Grubb, Eds., New York, Teachers College, Columbia Universtiy, 1974 provides many of the key documents.

Hello 

I am not sure that   I understand your question, but, I shall try to answer it in this way. You see in research there is always a need to focus your data collection exercise. Otherwise you may end up with a lot of data that is not very helpful because it does not help you to answer your research questions. This focus is provided by the theory on which you anchor your study and the theory helps you to construct basic concepts  that are unique to your discipline of inquiry. these are known respectively as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. To get the right theories and concepts in technical and vocational educational education, you need to understand the nature of Tech. & Voc. Education. Essentially, this kind of education is competency based where learners are expected to master some skill  that makes them economically productive. Learners will, therefore be exposed to  what we call a "Factory curriculum" rather than a "Temple or Liberal Arts curriculum" So, an appropriate conceptual framework might be one that has its roots in economic theories of production such as the Human Capital Theory or its educational variant , that is, the Education Production Function theory. Both of these theories by the way can be expressed mathematically to show a cause-effect relationship of some kind or what some people like to call an input-output relationship

Let me pause here for a while and allow you to think about this , we can pick up the conversation later. This was a good question and thank you for asking it.

thanks. in my state of research on community college is still very little, too little literature supporting, open access on community college also can not be obtained. I sought in one frame work was to discuss needs assessment