DESCRIPTORS *Developmental Psychology; *Epistemology; *Hermeneutics; *Scientific Methodology IDENTIFIERS *Objectivity; *Subjectivity; Theoretical Analysis; Theory Development

Most developmental psychologists have encountered some version of the hermeneutic critique. Hermeneuticists assert that the traditional conception of social science research is fundamentally flawed in methodology, in its conception of the human person and human action, and in epistemology. Hermeneuticists maintain that hermeneutics should revolutionize psychological and educational research. How seriously should this argument be taken? First, consider the methodological argument. It has been claimed that hermeneutic inquiry calls in a unique way for analyses that are both perspectival and contextual. But such analyses are central to many developmental psychologists ' research programs. Evidently, hermeneutics will not revolutionize psychological research methods. Now rJnsider the epistemological argument. Hermeneuticists recognize that the understanding of human action requires detailed analyses o