Interpretive Research Design

NOTES

Introduction

1 Often, these social science fields or subfields assume that this approach characterizes work in the natural and physical sciences; and given the sense of inferiority carried by many social scientists vis-à-vis those other modes—captured in the language of “soft” versus “hard” sciences—they seek to emulate what they perceive as “true,” and better, scientific practices. (In French, interestingly enough, the distinction is drawn between sciences dures (hard) and souples (literally, supple), the latter fitting nicely with the notion of flexibility in interpretive research.) That many of those other sciences do not conduct their work following the steps of “the scientific method” goes unnoticed. We do not have space to pursue ...