THE SPECTER OF METAPHYSICS IN COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE - THE QUALITATIVE CHALLENGE

After decades of scientific research, the specter of metaphysics perva des and hinders virtually all aspects of counseling research, theory, and practice. Qualitative research is suggested as capable of coming t o terms with such issues. This article notes that qualitative research will gain acceptance when it takes a significant step toward solving a major problem in the discipline. A tentative outline of an approach to metaphysical problems involving radical empiricism and phenomenolog y is provided. Along the way, some necessary cognitive shifts are deli neated, involving dialectical and abductive reasoning processes.