In studies on the relationship between youth and political activism, we find positions that qualify this experience as apathetic and disconnected from politics or as essentially predisposed to politics. We discussed that dichotomized answers to this question, not questioning the concept of politics and the real possibility of young people being understood as political actors, as well as the privilege of quantitative studies have led to reductionism that prevent a more forceful about the complex psychosocial dynamics that mark the relationship between youth and politics. We present some methodological notes on these issues. We reflect on elements of a conception of science that can guide a non reductionist position on the relationship and youth policy; on interpretation, reflexivity and localized knowledge necessary for this perspective and on the political dimension of qualitative research. We also point out methodological aspects of research on youth and political participation developed in the Center of Political Psychology of Universidade Fderal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
youth; politics; methodology; Brazil