Qualitative methodologies and criticality in social sciences: interdisciplinary challenge for environmental perception and analysis

Abstract

Qualitative methodologies represent an important component for environmental analyses. As the idea of scientific neutrality is a consensual impossibility in the Social Sciences debate, qualitative methodologies contribute with the necessary criticality to make possible an approach to reality capable of bringing out the complexity of relationships between communities and the environment. In this perspective, some applications are presented that use thematic interviews, in line with the Theory of Social Representation. In addition, applications arising from another branch of understanding of man-nature relations, that of environmental perception, are presented. In all reported applications - some empirical research and others from bibliographical research through consultation with other authors - the qualitative methodologies are extremely revealing of important aspects for environmental analysis. In this sense, such methodologies contribute to the interdisciplinary apprehension inherent in the field of environmental studies.