THE GADAMERIAN HERMENEUTICS AS A SYNTHESIS BETWEEN THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE APPROACH IN THE SOCIAL RESEARCH

Abstract

The dispute between the supporters of quantitative and qualitative approaches within the social sciences continues to be present. However, when examining the problem the accent has always been placed on the methodological edges of the discussion, leaving aside the epistemological and philosophical elements that may be in the background. In this way, it is understood that a more significant solution to the issue must necessarily come through a philosophical proposal, which, together with raising a foundation for reality or its knowledge, can also be linked to the most relevant characteristics of each approach. In this context, the present paper seeks to propose the hermeneutic of Hans–Georg Gadamer as a possible solution to the mentioned differences, because its universal scope, its accentuation in the interpretation and its circular notion of human understanding provide it with elements that associate it clearly with the philosophy, the epistemology, the qualitative research and the quantitative research.