Thi s pape r account s fo r a researc h inscribe d withi n th e researc h pro jec t name d Investigatio n Region s i n Educatio n an d Pedagogy : Constructio n o f a Researc h Activit y Ma p fo r th e decad e 2000 - 2010 . I t make s par t o f th e Doctora l Pro gram in Social Sciences Childhood and Y outh carried out by CINDE and Universidad d e Manizales . It s mai n objectiv e i s t o understan d th e sens e give n b y researcher s in Educatio n an d Pedagog y t o thei r dail y researc h work . A phenomenologica l qualita tiv e researc h metho d wit h a hermeneutica l perspectiv e wa s used . Fou r researchers were interviewed from four universities of Manizales. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by using two methods: the phenomenological thematic analysis proposed by Max V an Manen and the hermeneutic circle o f Hans-Geor g Gadame r . Th e conclusio n i s tha t th e centra l experienc e o f bein g a researche r i n thes e area s i s dignity , constructe d fro m thre e mai n themes : self-rela tion , trajectories , an d sens e modes . I t wa s als o conclude d tha t thes e thre e topic s are closely linked with the life of institutional research in Manizales.