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CHAPTER 3RESEARCH DESIGN:CONCEPTUALIZATION ANDOPERATIONALIZATIONFree download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaINTRODUCTIONIn our discussion in the previous chapter of the factors influencing the formulationof the research problem, it was evident that different types of researchimpose different demands regarding the necessity for an initial explicit statementof the problem, and for the formulation of hypotheses. In research of anexploratory nature, the aim is to arrive at the formulation of explicit researchhypotheses by initially adopting a flexible approach. In more quantitativeresearch, in which the aim is to test hypotheses, the researcher begins with areasonably clear statement of the problem and the hypotheses. In this chapterwe shall assume that we are dealing with research in which a clear statement ofthe problem and a set of hypotheses is the point of departure. Obviously, thiscould well be the case in both quantitative and qualitative research in bothdescriptive and explanatory research. It is also important to note that this wouldapply equally to more theoretical research (for example, conceptual analysisand theory building) and empirical research (which involves the collection ofnew empirical data).Karl Popper, in particular, was responsible for placing a new emphasis on therole of problem formulation in science. One of the most common myths aboutscientific research, is that it could be conducted in the absence of a clearlyformulated problem. This myth, which Alan Chalmers calls naive in-57