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CHAPTER 6CENTRAL CONSTRUCTS IN THERESEARCH PROCESSFree download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaINTRODUCTIONIn the preceding chapters on research design, we have emphasized the dynamicsof the decision-making process in social sciences research, and the considerationsthat need to be taken into account in order to maximize the validityof the findings of a given project. In this chapter we turn our attention to thosecomponents of research which are found in any research project: concepts,definitions, hypotheses, models, theories, typologies, and paradigms. Ouremphasis is, therefore, upon the analytical “tools” of the researcher; theinstruments by means of which he or she is able to make sense of thephenomenon that is being investigated. The constructs with which we shalldeal constitute at the same time the frame of reference of any investigation(research simply cannot take place in the absence of concepts, statements, andconceptual frameworks), and the products of the research process (researchleads to the development of new theories and models).The constructs that we discuss form an hierarchical order that may berepresented in the following manner:Paradigm/Research programmeConceptual frames of referenceStatements Statements StatementsConcepts Concepts Concepts Concepts(Including theories,models, typologies)(Includingdefinitionshypotheses)125