Metatheoretical assumptions in scientific pastoral-theological research

This article is part of a series about taking into account the metatheoretical assumptions in scientific practicaltheological research. The first part of this series gives the theoretical foundation for the view on reality-, hermeneutical-and scientific-theoretical approaches to the research field. The second part focuses on the effect these assumptions will have on the scientific research of the various subject groups in Practical Theology. This article describes the scientific approach to the research field of pastoral care. This research article describes the personal metatheoretical perspective from which the subject area is approached and gives account of the following: the view on reality with which the research field of Pastoral Science is studied; the foundation on which the hermeneutical viewpoint is built to attain an understanding and a founded relationship between the elements that are applicable in Pastoral Science; and, in the last instance, to describe the scientific theoretical approach to the research field in a justified manner.