Life in a Brazilian valley: A legacy by Donald Pierson to human and social sciences in Brazil

Abstract

One important legacy left by Donald Pierson to Human and Social Sciences in Brazil is his work Life in a Brazilian Valley. This article is a reflection about the author and his work, showing man's background in his habitat, which constitutes, in Pierson's words, the stage for a rare and clear relationship. It emphasizes the main contributions of the design sketched by the research, pointing out the methodological procedures and some dialogues between researchers and communities.