Abstract

PALMIERI, Marilícia Witzler Antunes Ribeiro  and  MARTINS, João Batista. Reflections on the possibilities and challenges of scientific production in psychology. Psicol. estud. [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.4, pp. 743-752. ISSN 1413-7372.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722008000400012.

Psychology scientific production indicates the existence of methodological and epistemological controversies. The emergency of new epistemological perspectives requires a discussion on the possibilities and the challenges of the knowledge construction process. Discussion ranges from the acknowledgement of subjectivity in the process of scientific investigation, which, in fact, underpins the overcoming of dichotomical trends in the understanding of Psi phenomena, and subverts the positivist organization of thought. Since new ways for knowledge building are suggested, new concepts are provided as subjectivity factors. The researcher's labor becomes closer to that of the bricoleur's. Implications in knowledge production are acknowledged and tension fields are created that facilitate a new understanding of the world. The process of knowledge construction organizes and assures a more complex glance on Psi phenomena.

Keywords : Knowledge production; research methodology; complexity.