Hello Mohammed. The conceptual framework is a construct where you discuss concepts and theories that are involved in your research work. This conceptual framework is like the first step in your research. In order to define your problem statement, objectives, justification and methodology you need a preliminary conceptual basis. In order words, this conceptual basis helps you to delimitate your object of study and the general scope of your research. However, along your investigation, you have to keep building this conceptual framework, and keep in mind this: it won't be finished at all because it is only a small component of all the conceptual and theoretical discussion in your research field. 

On the other hand, an operational framework is from methodological nature. This framework provides you specific criteria, steps, methods depending of what you want to do. For instance, my master thesis work was about the assessment of competencies for sustainability in secondary education. For that, besides the conceptual framework I needed to develop an assessment framework: To establish and define the specfic performance indicators that allowed me to design the proper assessment tools and to interpret the results of the instrument application. 

Regarding your research, you must develop a conceptual framework that articulates the SDG's, Enviromental Education (EA), and curriculum theory. You have to detect the connections and gaps between them, for example, how EA is incorporating the SDG's in its different approaches, discourses and so on; what did EA do about the MDG's and how could this help to the articulate SDG's and EA; how do curriculum development theory and experiences say about the integration of EA in the primary education curriculum? What has it been done in that respect? 

So, when constructing a conceptual framework, you ask some important questions, either in an explicit or implicti way, and the same time you answer them. That's why a preliminary conceptual framework is needed in order to state the problem. 

I don't know what your research objectives are or what research outcomes you are expecting, because your operational framework depends on that. But, if you want to integrate the SDG's in the primary education curriculum, well, you will need an operational framework that tells what criteria you are going to use.

Kind regards

I do agree and would add that Conceptual Frameworks are often theoretical - analytical descriptors of Operational Frameworks. Conceptually, we may be able to create Fully-Automated Cyber Educational Systems. However, to translate it to Operational Frameworks this will require Smart Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform and Smart Computational Devices that would be accessible in ubiquitous manner 24 by 7 to everyone from anywhere on the planet. Today, such platform may be implemented in somehow limited environment  where all required infrastructure is available and properly implemented. 

That excellent explanations, textbooklike, by previous speakers no one can top. In addition to this I would like to focus attention to some aspects of practical experience: Often in the beginning phase of research there is a mixture of theoretical and pracical ideas, seldom leads the way clearly from conceptual framework to methodical  questions, sometimes it happens vice versa. Within the field of environtmental education there are some typical basic problems, at first: the long time before you can expect changes which in fact have to do with the  impact of your design (and not by extraneous variables), also you have to consider the imperfect methods of evaulation. In my own modest experience the main problem is the fact that good ideas and procedures which promise success in a short future lead often to opposite (ambivalent or bad) consequences in a long-time view. So the difference of conceptual and methodical conditions are impportant to know and to regard, especially if you intend to get funds for your project ore to fill an application for such reason. Also you have to ask yourself if there are ethical limitations to respect in your project, because children or adults are human subjects with their reality of life , so questions of methods in order to change behaviour have a prinicpal aspect which touches the conceptual framework. As far as developing a curriculum in environmental education there can happen - in my view - the mistake that formulating excellent goals and mentioning practicable means can bring actual success, if there ar no real conditions of realizing them. For instance, it is import that children learn hygiene practice as a standard of behaviour, but if the water is contaminated or there is no money to buy soap then the best curriculum preparation doesn't work. So the process of environmental education begins at many hot spots of the society with an process of clarification about the intensity of basic problems. All told we have no other choice as educators, and our ideas and actions are human,  serving vital interests of men and society. Best wishes for your project!

Thank you for the clarification. I am starting to put the pieces together.

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From a research perspective, generally, I might consider a conceptual framework to be a theoretical frame, and the operational framework to be the research method. A means of thinking about a problem versus a means of investigating a problem.