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Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zafied them briefly in the diagrammatic representation on Van Leent’sclassification that appears in figure 7.5.In this figure we have made a distinction between the dimensions in terms ofthe quantitative and qualitative approaches. Typically, research conductedalong the breadth dimension, as well as that conducted along the heightdimension, would require quantitative approaches to research. In terms ofresearch design requirements, the breadth dimension would typicallynecessitate survey research, while the height dimension would typically requireexperimental designs. In comparison, any attempt to penetrate to the essence ofa phenomenon can only be made by means of qualitative approaches.One should, however, exercise some caution here, as the preceding discussionwas not intended to convey the impression that it is really possible to classifyindividual research projects exclusively along one of the dimensions. It isprobably closer to the truth that the majority of investigations are, to someextent, a mixture of these dimensions. An analysis of the interactions betweenthe dimensions would, however, constitute a major assignment.One of the major conclusions that we may draw from the preceding discussion,is that research approaches are, to a large extent, determined by the nature ofthe subject matter and by the research goals. When the goal of an investigationis to provide a representative view of a phenomenon, the most appropriateapproach would be a quantitative one. Similarly, if researchers are interested inexplaining the causal relationships between phenomena, they would generallyhave to make use of one of the quantitatively-oriented experimental designs.Should researchers, however, be interested in understanding the essentialelements of a phenomenon, they would be forced to employ qualitativemethodologies. What is, however, of the utmost importance, is that researchersshould adhere to certain conditions and requirements on each of thesedimensions if they wish to proceed in a scientifically acceptable manner.CONCLUSIONAt the beginning of this chapter we indicated that social science research ischaracterized by apparently divergent approaches to research. Anyone who hashad more than coincidental contact with the social sciences, is bound to havebeen struck by the remarkable level of intolerance that exists between theadherents of different research approaches. At times one gains the impressionthat the validity of one individual’s approach can only be substantiated bybeing able to demonstrate that the approach of another is invalid. The point ofview put forward in this chapter is that the phenomena which are investigatedin the social sciences are so enmeshed that a single approach can most certainlynot succeed in encompassing human beings in their full complexity. It would,therefore, be quite futile to behave as though one ap-169