ABSTRACT
We believe that an awareness of the character of life history research and data will help to inform and illustrate subsequent discussions focusing on more theoretical matters. Having said this, we do want to emphasize a point to which we will regularly return: namely, that we see any separation of theoretical, methodological, practical, epistemological, ethical, ontological (and so on) aspects of research to be in essence artificial. All are, or should be, a considered part of any researcher’s whole philosophy of, and approach to, their work. Significantly this is true regardless of the paradigm they adopt or methods they use. Addressing each aspect individually, however, does help to provide an organizational framework for comprehension and enables readers to refer more easily and quickly to specific issues or areas.
