NARRATIVES IN SOCIOLOGY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to discuss theoretically and methodologically, the use of narratives in social science research. The article is divided in two main topics, the first one presenting the relationship between epistemology and methodology, discussing how the choice of methodologies and techniques, as well as apparently empirical objects, are constructed based on theoretical assumptions. The main argument deals with the fact that by situating narrative within a social space of possibilities, one can reconcile the diachronic and synchronic dimensions of research, implying a more robust methodology that breaks through the methodological obstacles in the social sciences elucidated by the bibliography. To justify the argument, an explanation and literature review is made about the use of narratives and life stories as research methodologies.