Phenomenology Research: The Lived Experience

Phenomenology is a science whose purpose is to describe the appearance of things as a lived experience. It allows nursing to interpret the nature of consciousness in the world (Merleau-Ponty) It can be descriptive or interpretive (hermeneutic). It is a philosophy, an method, and an inductive logic strategy

Two Philosophical Differences

Peripheral research, stays distant from the subjects, objectivity seeking, and knowledge is gained by overcoming all doubt. Use Bracketing (Husserl) Truth is not something we construct by distancing ourselves from those we want to study. Truth comes from our engagement with the world. Subjectivity is as important as objectivity. (Heideggerian)

Different Types of Phenomenology

Phenomenology of Essences

Experiment with relationships Coding by categories Using free imaginative variation

Focuses on phen. as it unfolds-takes shape Sense of dynamic adventure with the world Is a constant work of the self related to bias, etc To interpret the phenomena being observed

Phenomenology of Appearances

Reductive Phenomenology

Interpretive (Hermeneutic) Phenomenology

Design Characteristics

Purposive samples of 7-20 usually going for saturation. Instrument is the researcher Data collection is by interview of groups or individual that are verbatim, taped, and field notes. Data collection is directly tied to analysis, that eventually is coded or structured into themes.

Five Steps of the Method

Shared Experience is presented Transform the lived experience into an experience the subject would agree with Code the data Put it into written form and create confirmation of the data texts. Create a complete integration of all of these for a research document

The Rigor of Trustworthiness

Trustworthy questions Trustworthy approach Trustworthy in analysis Trustworthy and authenticity of data

Other Research Rigors

Descriptive Vividness Methodological Congruence Theoretical Connectedness Analytical Preciseness Heuristic Relevance

Unique Features of Phenomenology

Most of the literature review is conducted at the end of the data collection. It is believed the CF biases the data collection and analysis.

Like Grounded Theory but without a BSP or bias already in mind.

It is conducted by gathering interview data from others. It is never quantitative, but some would prefer to try and keep it objective.