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ductivism, refers to the belief that objective research obtains when a researcherapproaches the research domain in an open-minded and receptive manner,thereby eliminating all bias. According to this approach, data collection isregarded as a process in which data are registered in a passive or receptivemanner. For the naive inductivist, then, the major threat to the validity of datais to be found where the researcher approaches the phenomena with eitherpreconceived ideas or hypotheses. Popper, in clear contradistinction, indicatesthat the research process originates in the identification of either an empiricalor conceptual problem. Problems of this nature develop ... especially when weare disappointed in our expectations, or when our theories involve us indifficulties, in contradictions; and these may arise either within a theory, orbetween two different theories or as a result of a clash between our theoriesand our observations (Popper, 1963: 222).In Chapter 2, we discussed, in some detail, various ways in which researchproblems are generated. In this chapter we devote our attention to theconsiderations which should be taken into account during the furtherarticulation of the formulation of the problem in order, eventually, to collectreliable data about a certain phenomenon. As indicated in the title of thischapter, at least two distinct stages can be identified in the transition fromformulating the problem to collecting data, namely conceptualization (orconceptual explication) and operationalization. The easiest way in which therelationship between conceptualization and operationalization can beexplained, is to look more closely at the notion of a concept.Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaCONCEPT AND MEANINGWe can begin by defining concepts as the most basic linguistic constructionsby means of which people order and categorize reality. They are no less thanthe “pigeonholes” into which we sort the chaotic and unsystematised content ofour experiences. Concepts may therefore be regarded as the primaryinstruments which we employ in coming to grips with our experiences.Concepts are symbols of meaning. They are symbolic constructs which weemploy when we refer (or try to refer) to phenomena. But the concept of“meaning” needs to be explicated. A well-known approach is to definemeaning more clearly by referring to the two basic elements or dimensions of aconcept, namely its connotation (sense) and its denotation (reference).The connotation or sense of a concept like culture would refer to what wemean or intend when we use the concept. Although it would certainly becorrect to claim that the connotations that people attach to concepts areinfluenced by their experiences in life (so-called subjective connotations), it isalso the case that there is a sufficiently large degree of concurrence in our useof everyday concepts to make interpersonal communication possible (so-calledconventional connotation). In spite of the fact that the use of a concept such asculture may be subjectively determined, it would, nonetheless,58