GUIDING THOUGHTS ON RESEARCH INTO MANAGEMENT: THE CONTRIBUTION OF PAULO FREIRE REFLEXÕES ORIENTADORAS À PESQUISA EM ADMINISTRAÇÃO: CONTRIBUIÇÕES EM PAULO FREIRE

In this essay we explore the methodological possibilities in the work of Paulo Freire that may be used to guide research in the fi eld of Management. We approach the indivisible binomial action-refl ection as a precondition for building the equally indivisible binomial theory-practice. We look at the dialectic, from Freire’s perspective, as a methodological practice that facilitates the research process. We argue throughout this paper that if researchers fail to perceive the dialectical unity between theory and practice, they will also fail to understand a particular phenomenon in all its complexity. We conclude that any impossible dichotomy between their intent, which is political, and the methods, techniques and processes by which such intentions are implemented, especially when it comes to social science research and specifi cally those studies to dealing, in committed way, with issues related to the organizations and their processes, that is, human issues.