4.6 Interrogating a conceptual framework
I want to suggest one other way in which a conceptual framework can be used.
Earlier, I suggested you might create a spray diagram which held together the different concepts I’ve presented you with relating to institutions and institutional development. I also suggested you might like to ask questions related to the concepts.
I now want to put those two suggestions together.
Activity 7 Using a diagram to interrogate the landscape
Create a spray diagram – or, better, spray diagrams – that are built around the concepts and annotated with questions. Here in Figure 1 is an example of what I mean.
Table 2 presents some ideas to think about coming from the diagram.
Figure 1 Spray diagram around a conceptual framework
| rules | What’s wrong with the existing rules? Who’s breaking them? And why? |
| norms | How has behaviour been changing? |
| meanings | What sense will this change make to those supposed to benefit from it? Why are people objecting to the situation? |
| values | What’s bad about this policy? In whose eyes? |
| big players | What power do they have? How do they relate to each other? |
My diagram is abstract, relating to no particular development action. I do think the questions are good, despite this. I suspect your diagram will be better if drawn with a specific situation or development action in mind.
Now draw your own diagrams.