Abstract

The contemporary epistemological debate emphasizes the role of communication in the construction of the "subject" and in the definition of the context which gives a sense to the subject's experience. From this point of view, many theoretical and methodological issues arise. Among these, this essay focouses on the complex and ambiguous nature of the data construction (not collection) process, in the specific situation of empirical research. It is argued that, in this construction process, a very important role is played not only by actors' linguistic and communicative competences, but also by the trusting nature of the relationship established between the subjects involved. Secondly, a crucial attention should be paid to the activation of the memory process.