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Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaIn chapters 2 and 5 we shall indicate that there are a number of methodologicaland logical considerations which render the ideal of complete certainty in thesocial sciences unattainable. This does not, however, imply that socialscientists need abandon the ideal of truth. The alternative to rigid objectivismor fundamentalism is neither complete relativism nor scepticism. This is thefundamental epistemological postulate of the book. Because of the complexityof the research domain of the social sciences, and the inherent inaccuracy andfallibility of research, it is necessary to accept that complete certainty isunattainable. The likelihood that research findings may have limited orcontextual validity is accepted, while bearing in mind that subsequent researchmay reveal that it is invalid. It is, therefore, accepted that the epistemic idealought rather to be the generation of research findings which approximate, asclosely as possible, the true state of affairs. Bearing in mind that it isimpossible to know when the truth has been attained, it necessarily becomesessential to strive constantly for the elimination of falsity, inaccuracy, and errorin research.From the preceding it may be concluded that the primary aim of research in thesocial sciences is to generate valid findings, i.e. that the findings shouldapproximate reality as closely as possible. Following Popper’s thinking, it isaccepted that one should seek the greatest degree of verisimilitude instatements about reality. Alternatively, one could maintain that scientificstatements ought to be approximations of truth in Putnam’s terminology. Theterm validity is probably the most useful to convey the meaning ofverisimilitude. In this we follow Cook and Campbell (1979: 37) who say: Weshall use the concepts of validity and invalidity to refer to the best possibleapproximation to the truth or falsity of propositions ...In chapters 2 and 5 a detailed analysis is presented of the factors which presentobstacles to the attainment of valid findings, as well as ways in which thesefactors may be controlled.The methodological dimensionWhile the epistemological dimension refers to the status of scientificstatements, the methodological dimension concerns what may be called the“how” of social sciences research. In other words, How should research beplanned, structured, and executed to comply with the criteria of science? Inactual fact, the etymological meaning of the word methodology could beinterpreted as the logic of implementing scientific methods in the study ofreality. This definition becomes clearer when one bears in mind that theprocess of scientific research is largely a type of decision-making process. Theresearcher is required to make a series of decisions of the following nature:Which theory or model is likely to be most appropriate for investigating agiven subject? Which research hypotheses concerning the object of study maybe formulated on the basis of the selected theory or model? Which measuring15