The aim of this paper is to describe a methodology for research with families in natural environment: Ecological Insertion. This methodology is based on Ecological Systems Theory, that proposes that development must be studied through a scientific model that involves interaction among four nucleus: process, person, context and time, denominated bioecological model. For this theory, the bioecological model become an appropriate theoretical-methodologial approach for research on development-in-context. This paper describes an operacionalization of this model in a qualitative research about resilience and vulnerability in families under risk situation. The ecological insertion involved the study accompaniment of three poor families who live in a violent community and included observations, informal chats and interviews. The operacionalization of the bioecological model in this research promoted the accomplishment of a study with ecological validity, apart from allowing to include various levels of analysis.
Ecological insertion; methodology; resilience; family; risk