**3.2.2 Choosing conceptual framework**

In some sense, the choice of the conceptual framework is the most important phase beside the formulating of research problems. Choosing which framework indicates the connotations, scales, and philosophy of the concepts and relative terms and definitions. Therefore, the conceptual framework in this analysis should reflect the complex interactions in the coupled social environmental vulnerability system.

Additionally, the choice of conceptual framework impacts the following process of metaanalysis. Though the causes to vulnerability exist no matter what methodology is chosen, the organization and categorization of the information would be different. Further, the presentation of the analysis results would be different.

The Turner et al. (2003) framework takes the concerned coupled social environmental system in which vulnerability resides as the core system, with consideration of functions from broader social and biophysical conditions' interactions. With the three elements of exposure, sensitivity and resilience, this framework presents the complexity and the multiscale characteristics in the system(Turner, Kasperson et al. 2003).
