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discourse — it is not imposed on that world by the observer (1978: 103).Typically, the concepts which are generated in qualitative research are,therefore, concrete concepts — concepts which accurately reflect the world ofthe sample. An illustration of this may be found in Schurink’s study onprostitution (1983). An explanation of the subjective connotations that theactors attribute to concepts like steamers, swaaiers, spinster, and lanitherefore, constitute an integral part of the eventual interpretation of thebehaviour in question. Qualitative researchers, quite correctly, claim thatconcepts of this nature possess a large degree of construct validity because ofthe fact that they are rooted in the world of the subjects. An obvious limitingfactor with concepts of this nature is their limited interpretative scope. For theexact reason that these concepts are part of the world of meaning of a givengroup, they will usually also display highly limited generalizability.Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaRESUMÉThis concludes our discussion on the considerations of validity that are relevantto conceptualization and operationalization. We have distinguished betweentheoretical validity (connotative validity) and measurement validity (denotativevalidity) on the basis of the distinction that may be drawn between theconnotative and denotative dimensions of concepts. In spite of the distinctions,we have emphasized the close correspondence between these two types ofvalidity throughout our discussion. On the one hand, theoretically soundconcepts are of little value if they do not pave the way to good empiricalresearch. On the other hand, valid measurement presupposes adequateconceptual explication. If one were to assume at this point that the researchershave dealt with the most important threats to theoretical and measurementvalidity by means of systematic research design and competent planning, it isevident that they still have to contend with the unusual demands related to datacollection in the social sciences. This is the topic of the next chapter.Suggestions for further reading1. Popper has presented a further elaboration of his point of view on thenature of scientific problems in Popper (1973). A recent publication inwhich a detailed discussion is presented on the differences that are to be71