THE FRAME OF REFERENCE AS AN INTERPRETIVE CONSTRUCTION IN SOCIAL RESEARCH

Abstract

This article examines the reference framework as a central interpretive construction within the research process in the social and human sciences. From a qualitative and epistemologically situated perspective, the study assumes that research outcomes are not limited to the production of empirical data, but also include the theoretical and conceptual organization that enables understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. In this sense, the reference framework is approached as an analytical device that articulates theories, concepts, prior studies, and contextual elements, thereby guiding problem formulation, the definition of analytical categories, and the methodological coherence of the study.

The research was conducted within the interpretive paradigm and employed the hermeneutic method through a systematic and critical review of specialized literature on social research methodology. The analysis made it possible to identify the characteristics, functions, and elements that configure a rigorous reference framework, highlighting its dynamic and contextual nature, as well as its dependence on the specific nature of the research problem. The findings show that the articulation of theoretical, conceptual, social, historical, legal, and institutional frameworks strengthens the interpretive capacity of research and enhances its academic validity.

It is concluded that the reference framework does not constitute an accessory section of the research design, but rather a structuring component that underpins the production of socially situated and methodologically defensible knowledge.