06/08/2015

PHENOMENOLOGY

PHENOMENOLOGY

Phenomenologycomesfromtheacademicdisciplinesof
philosophyandpsychology,anditisbasedupontheworkof
the20thcenturyphilosopherEdmundHusserl,whichwas
thenlaterdevelopedbyHeidegger.

Introduction
Initsbroadestsense,'phenomenology'referstoaperson's
perceptionofthemeaningofanevent,asopposedtothe
eventasitexistsexternallyto(outsideof)thatperson.
Thefocusofphenomenologicinquiryiswhatpeople
experienceinregardtosomephenomenonorotherandhow
theyinterpretthoseexperiences.
Aphenomenologicalresearchstudyisastudythatattempts
tounderstandpeople'sperceptions,perspectivesand
understandingsofaparticularsituation(orphenomenon).
Inotherwords,aphenomenologicalresearchstudytriesto
answerthequestion'Whatisitliketoexperiencesuchand
such?'.
Bylookingatmultipleperspectivesofthesamesituation,a
researchercanstarttomakesomegeneralisationsofwhat
somethingislikeasanexperiencefromthe'insider's'
perspective.

Whatisphenomenology?
Theobjectiveofphenomenologyisthedirectinvestigation
anddescriptionofphenomenaasconsciouslyexperienced,
http://www.researchproposalsforhealthprofessionals.com/phenomenology.htm

1/4

06/08/2015

PHENOMENOLOGY

withouttheoriesabouttheircausalexplanationsortheir
objectivereality.
Itthereforeseekstounderstandhowpeopleconstruct
meaning.

Maincharacteristicsofphenomenology
Thereareseveralmaincharacteristicsthathelptodefine
whatexactlyphenomenologyis.
Methodology
Aphenomenologicalstudyofteninvolvesthefourstepsof:
Bracketing
Intuiting
Analysing
Describing
Sampling
Smallsamples(probablynomorethan10participants)are
mostsuitableforthistypeofresearch.
Largesamplescanbecomeunwieldy.
Datacollectionmethods
Veryopenquestionsneedtobeasked.
Thedatacollectiontoolsthataremostoftenusedare:
Interviews/speech
Diaries/written
http://www.researchproposalsforhealthprofessionals.com/phenomenology.htm

2/4

06/08/2015

PHENOMENOLOGY

Drawings/nonverbal
Observation/visual
Advantages/Disadvantages
Aswithallresearchmethodologies,thereareinbuilt
advantages,andthereareinbuiltdisadvantages.
Conclusion
Theaimofphenomenologicalresearchistoaspiretopure
selfexpression,withnoninterferencefromtheresearcher.
Thismeanstheremustbeno'leadingquestions',aswellas
theresearchercompletingtheprocessofbracketingsothat
theycanbeawareoftheirownideasandprejudicesabout
thephenomenonofinterest.
Thephenomenologicapproachisespeciallyusefulwhena
phenomenonofinteresthasbeenpoorlydefinedor
conceptualisedoryoudidnotknowthatitexisted!
AccordingtoVanManen(1990),thefouraspectsof'lived
experience'thatareofinteresttophenomenologistsare:
livedspace(spatiality)
livedbody(corporeality)
livedtime(temporality)
livedhumanrelations(relationality)
Thetopicsappropriatetophenomenologyareonesthatare
fundamentaltothelifeexperiencesofhumans,e.g.
themeaningofhealth/stress
theexperienceofbereavement
http://www.researchproposalsforhealthprofessionals.com/phenomenology.htm

3/4

06/08/2015

PHENOMENOLOGY

thequalityoflifewithachronicillness.
Phenomenologycanencompassnarrativeresearch.
Phenomenologyisattractivetoqualitativenurseresearchers
becausecaring(or'Sorge')isfundamentaltotheresearch
approach.
Phenomenologycanbeavehicletoilluminateandclarify
centralandimportantissuesinnursing.
Reference:VanManenM.(1990)ResearchingLivedExperience:Humanscience
foranactionsensitivepedagogy.London,Ontario:Althouse

qualitativeresearchdesign

http://www.researchproposalsforhealthprofessionals.com/phenomenology.htm

4/4