Phenomenology Qualitative Research Method “Its Not Easy Being Green” By Ronda Hildebrand, Chris Bikakis, Carol Lewallen, Robin Koster & Rachel Wurth
Jan 21, 2016
Phenomenology Qualitative Research Method
“Its Not Easy Being Green” By Ronda Hildebrand, Chris Bikakis, Carol Lewallen,
Robin Koster & Rachel Wurth
Objectives At the end of this presentation,
the learners will be able to...
State some of the key assumptions of phenomenology based research
Discuss the philosophical base of the method.
Indicate when this method is appropriate for research and identify appropriate research questions.
Discuss methods of data analysis and how results are presented
Analyze and critique published research done using this method.
Key AssumptionsHumans coconstitute situations. (Parse 2001)
Key AssumptionsKnowledge about human experience is expanded by allowing essences of phenomena to appear through descriptions without predictable prescriptions. (Parse 2001)
Key Assumptions Knowledge about human experience is
gained from retrospective descriptions of lived experiences. (Parse 2001)
So What Does All This Mean?
Philosophical BasePhenomenology is both a research
method and a philosophy
The phenomenological movement arose in Germany in the late 19th century.
Early philosophers were trained in religion, philosophy, mathematics, or physics.
Philosophical Base Edmund Husserl’s
descriptive phenomenology
Martin Heidegger’s interpretive phenomenology (also called hermeneutics)
Heideggar
Philosophical BaseHusserl
Three components to this approach
Essences
Intuiting
Phenomenological reduction (Bracketing) or setting aside all previous experience including the existence of other subjects.
Presuppositions and relationships are viewed as necessary to understanding and they should not be suspended.
Experiences can be understood in a new way by recognizing historical influences and meanings of past traditions.
Philosophical Base The French phase (during WWII) sought to
intertwine objectivity and subjectivity.
Key figures were Gabriel Marcel, Jean-Paul Sartre and Maurice Merleau-Ponty.
Objectivity and subjectivity are united to form the human experience.
North American phenomenology will focus on describing the lived experiences within the context of a participants culture rather that searching for universal meaning.
Philosophical Base While the assumptions of phenomenology
are similar to the values of holistic nursing, interpretations of the many different forms of phenomenology have led to controversy.
“Nursing is a human science that focuses on individuality, is holistic in nature, and involves concern for human responses” (Dinkel 2005 p.8)
Why do nurses use phenomenology? Nursing is a human science that focuses on
providing individualized care.
Nursing is holistic in nature.
Nursing is concerned with human responses and experiences.
The concern of phenomenology Phenomenology is concerned with the subjective
experience, which is considered to be more real and more important in the understanding of human nature and human experience.
It focuses on the person’s lived experience within a phenomenon, including shared meanings and commonalities.
The phenomenological movement Three main phases:
German phase with Husserl, the father of the movement (descriptive) and Heidegger (interpretative and hermeneutics)
French phase which influenced psychology and psychiatry.
Dutch phase (combining descriptive and interpretative methods
A new phase? The North American focus.
Phenomenology
Main types:
Descriptive
Interpretative
Hermeneutics
Main methods:
Interview (relaxed)- to explain experiences fully and deeply until nothing further to say
Group interviews
Diaries or journals
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Participant observations
Phenomenological Research Purposive sampling – participants have knowledge
of a phenomenon
Small sample size – until saturation achieved
Usually relaxed interviews – from 30-120 minutes.
Conducted in comfortable environment or natural environment of participants
Basic components of phenomenology Intuiting
Bracketing
Identifying the essence
Describing
Examines lived experiences or phenomenon
Essences or the most essential meaning for
Participants are co-researchers and co-create meaning
No causal inference
Sample questions
What are the lived experiences of being clinical educators?
What are women’s expectations and experiences of childbirth?
What is the lived experience of pain during childbirth?
What is the lived experience of adolescents living with depression?
Sample questions
What is the lived experience of cardiac patients waiting for a heart transplant?
What is the lived experience of grieving the loss of a loved one?
What are the essential features of loneliness?
What is the lived experience of families with a child who has cancer?
Phenomenological Research Analysis
Remember- the intention is not to generate theory or determine
causality- but rather to describe and possibly understand the
essence of the concept by giving voice to the human experience just
as it is.
Phenomenological Analysis- A few things to know Phenomenologists are sometimes reluctant to focus or
refer to steps (too scientific)
TIME CONSUMING
Only people who have lived the reality of the subject are legitimate sources of data- so always retrospective
Most usual data source is verbatim transcripts of interviews
Horizontalisation- All elements of data are initially deemed equal
Phenomenological Analysis- Becoming one with the data....Yes, Parse Terms
Intuiting
Analyzing
Describing
Phenomenological Analysis - Handout
Multiple “methods’ devised-some common features simplified regarding data:
The division of text into units
The transformation of units into meanings (also called phenomenological concepts)
The tying together of transformed meanings/concepts to general description of the experience
Presentation of Results Themes/Essences/ Patterns/Common
Concepts are identified.
Then a comprehensive description of the phenomena being considered is told- much like a story.
Often quotes are used. An understanding of a lived experience should occur for the reader.
“Informational needs and the experiences of women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears”- next two slides.
Dealing with stigmaSeveral participants indicated a burden of shame whenthey learned that their abnormal Pap smear was a result ofan HPV infection:
Many years ago when my aunt had cervical cancerpeople were very supportive but they had no idea thatit had anything to do with HPV. But now it’s different.I feel like I won’t get that support because no one isgoing to feel sorry for someone who got a sexuallytransmitted disease and then later developed cervicalcancer because of it . it’s like it’s your fault . it’shorribly embarrassing.
Social stigma was also characterized by an altered self-imagerepresented by feeling contaminated, feeling a senseof anger and unfairness because they considered themselvesat low risk for acquiring a sexually transmittedinfection. The terms clean and dirty were used to describea physical self-concept associated with social stigma:
The first lady [healthcare provider] I went to made mefeel like I wanted to zip myself up in a Ziploc bag. Allthe information I got was that it was super serious andit’s a communicable disease like hepatitis or HIV.
Strategies to Ensure Rigor
Validity- to increase the trustworthiness of the interpretations of the date
Prolonged engagement with the data
Verification with the participants/source
Peer evaluations- regularly present for debriefing
Strategies to Ensure Rigor
Reliability – to increase consistency of procedures/data generated.
Disclose personal orientation/context.
Intensive engagement with material and iterations between data & interpretation
Technical accuracy with recording/transcribing
Phenomenon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Mc55P1i9g
Qualitative CritiqueNurses’ Experiences of
Drug Administration Errors
Why?Purpose of research?
Appropriate Qualitative Approach
Was exploring, interpreting or obtaining a deeper understanding of a clinical issue the objective?
Settings & ParticipantsTrue Random Sample
Wide range of experiences within group
Data Collection Methods Enough information given about collection
Sensible & adequate way to address research question?
Data Analysis MethodSystematic way of analyzing data?
Examples sought which contradict the majority?
Credibility & ImportanceUse common sense to determine if results
are sensible & believable
Do results matter in practice?
Is actual data sited?
Are results independently & objectively verifiable & traceable?
ConclusionsHow well does the analysis explain why people
behave in the way they do?
How comprehensible would this explanation be to a thoughtful participant in the setting/
How well does the explanation cohere with what we already know?
Critique of Phenomenology Study
Vulnerable and Strong
CritiqueWhat is the study purpose?
To describe the maternity care experiences of a sample of lesbian couples
Does the question lend itself to using phenomenology method?
Each participant lived the experience
Little is known
Sensitive topic
Why did the researcher believe there was value in this study?
To address the reported “lesbian baby boom”
All women feel powerful experiences of life, death, vulnerability and solitude during “maternity care”
Healthcare providers should see each woman as individuals, regardless of patient’s “culture”, be professional while providing empathy
Lesbian patients could benefit if providers had increased knowledge and ethical aspects of these specific encounters
Method & Data AnalysisDid participants live the phenomenon
in question and did the research incorporate his or her own beliefs?
Were the participants willing to describe their experiences? How?
What about the setting or researchers showed successful interviewing?
How did the researcher successfully interpret the data?
Method & Data Analysis
Validity
Specific opening question provided in the study
Open narrative and only interrupted if clarification needed
3 phases of interpretation defined (Intuiting, Analyzing, Describing)
Method & Data Analysis
Reliability
Every participant was interviewed by researcher
Every participant was a lesbian mother
Interviews recorded and transcribed verbatim by the researcher
Documented that there was discussion with study supervisor re design and data
Method & Data Analysis
Rigour
Joint interviews provided shared and in-depth narrative
Focused on 3 phases as opposed to follow up
Only 2 participants revisited , no response recorded
Conclusion Is the description simple in identifying themes?
Is there an exhaustive essential description
Can the reader see the central theme or phenomeneon
Did the researcher express alternatives?
Conclusion Is the description simple in identifying themes?
YES, simply stated 3 main themes; being open, being exposed and being confirmed also presented in graph
Is there an exhaustive essential description YES, then the author gives in-depth description of each theme
Can the reader see the central theme or phenomenon YES in reading the excerpts and detailed description
Did the researcher express alternatives? how provider contributes to lesbian maternity experience or
caring by taking responsibility
Closing Thought“Doing phenomenological research is a challenging,
exciting, and at times exhausting process. The
researcher is forced into a sometimes uncomfortable
self-awareness as she plums not only the meaning of
the phenomenon for participants but her own
responses. The final research product can provide a
real sense of satisfaction for the researcher, an often
expressed sense of meaningful contribution by the
research participants, and insight and understanding
for the reader.” Julie Donalek, 2004
The End
Phenomenon!Doo dooo do do do
Phenomenon!
do doo do do
References Dinkel, S. (2005). Phenomenology as a nursing research method. The Kansas Nurse, 80(5), 7-10.
Dowling, M. (2003). Hermeneutics: an exploration. Nurse Researcher, 11(4), 30-39.
Jasper, M. (1994). Issues in phenomenology for researchers of nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19(2), 309-314.
Leininger, M. (1988). Caring: An essential human need. Proceedings of the Three National Caring Conferences (pp. 129-132). Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press.
Munhall, P.L. (2007). Nursing research: A qualitative perspective. (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Parse, R. (2001). The phenomenological method. Qualitative inquiry: The path of sciencing. Boston, MA: National League for Nursing.
Priest, H. (2002). An approach to the phenomenological analysis of data. Nurse Researcher, 10(2), 50-63.
Schelbred A. & Nord, R. (2007) Nurses’ experiences of drug administration errors. Journal of Advanced Nursing 60(3), 317–324.
Spidsberg, B.D. (2007) Vulnerable and strong – lesbian women encountering maternity care. Journal of Advanced Nursing 60(5), 478–486.
Van der Zalm, J.E. & Bergum, V. (2000). Hermeneutic-phenomenology: providing living knowledge for nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 31(1), 211-218.