Conceptual framework development: a systematic review and an integrative methodological pathway

Conceptual frameworks are widely used across scientific fields to synthesize dispersed knowledge and structure the interpretation of complex phenomena. However, the literature still lacks systematic descriptions of how these frameworks are developed, which stages underpin their construction, and how analytical decisions are made throughout the process. In this context, this study conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the development of conceptual models and frameworks, aiming to identify recurring principles, map methodological differences, and examine how distinct fields structure processes of conceptual synthesis. Methodologically, 37 studies were selected and analyzed through thematic coding and interpretive synthesis, enabling an examination of how different traditions mobilize deductive, inductive, and abductive approaches in conceptual development. The results reveal convergences in stages such as phenomenon delimitation, evidence gathering, concept extraction, organization of relationships, and internal verification, alongside variations related to analytical logic, level of abstraction, use of empirical evidence, and forms of visual representation. Based on this mapping, the study proposes a methodological framework structured into eight stages distributed across three analytical moments (preparation, construction, and consolidation), integrating practices identified across different fields and offering a systematic pathway for conceptual framework development. By organizing dispersed methodological elements into a coherent analytical sequence, the proposed structure contributes to reducing the ambiguity that frequently characterizes conceptual framework construction and supports researchers in the transparent articulation of concepts, relationships, and analytical decisions across different research domains.