Aguirre, J. y Jaramillo, L. (2015) El papel de la descripción en la investigación cualitativa. Cinta moebio 53: 175-189

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The role of description in qualitative research

Mg. Juan Carlos Aguirre (jcaguirre@unicauca.edu.co) Departamento de Filosofía, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Universidad del Cauca (Popayán, Colombia)

Dr. Luis Guillermo Jaramillo (ljaramillo@unicauca.edu.co) Departamento de Educación Física, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y de la Educación (Popayán, Colombia)

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the role of description in qualitative research. Our point is this: the description itself has a necessary role in qualitative research; though that role is necessary, it is not enough, interpretation is also necessary, but this interpretation must be supported on a realist epistemology setting up clearly what is observation. In order to defend this point we show some problems in the relationship description-interpretation; then, we choose two proposals that defend the role of description in qualitative research; finally, we respond what is the role of description in qualitative research.

Keywords: description, interpretation, observation, qualitative research, theory-laden.