Example of Example of Phenomenological Phenomenological

InquiryInquiry• An interpretative phenomenological analysis of delusions in people with

Parkinson's disease.

• Todd, D., Simpson, J., & Murray, C.

• Purpose: to explore what delusional experiences mean for people with Parkinson’s Disease.

• Method: Eight participants were interviewed; interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to identify themes within their accounts

• Four themes emerged:

• 1. “I got very frightened” – the emotional experience associated with the delusions

• 2. “Why the hells that happening” – sense of uncertainty and of losing control

• 3. “I feel like I’m disintegrating” – loss of identity and sense of self

• 4. “I’ve just tried to make the best of things” – acceptance and adjustment

Concerns, Criticisms, Concerns, Criticisms, LimitationsLimitations

• Not appropriate when one is trying to establish the pervasiveness of an attitude or behaviour, or to compare situations in order to predict or control

• An appropriate question - “What IS X,”

• Not appropriate – “What CAUSES X”

• Requires that the researcher becomes a phenomenologist

• The research must explore his/her own consciousness

• The researcher needs to be deeply empathic

Concerns, Criticisms, Concerns, Criticisms, LimitationsLimitations

• Not an excuse for sloppy research; there is some confusion out there about what constitutes phenomenological research

• No clear recipe for doing research

• In some sense it is not a methodology at all but a perspective on what constitutes knowledge in the human sciences.

• Because of this it demands the research to be flexible and to self-check.

• Solipsism – “ all one can know is oneself”

• Researcher is the central point of study (Bentz & Shaprio, 102).

Strengths, Advantages Strengths, Advantages & Inspiration& Inspiration

• No single, so-called correct way of doing research

• Does not explain but creates understanding among the observed and the observer

• Adapted to the needs of the individual study

• Makes public and manageable lived experience

• More accepting and receptive of its subject matter; careful not to impose order on its subject matter

• Openly accepts people’s point of view

Strengths, Advantages Strengths, Advantages & Inspiration& Inspiration

• Specifically designed for psychology; developed across basically all disciplinary areas, such as learning, perception, language, cognition, personality and social life.

• Inspires insight in the researcher as well as the consumers of the research

• The sample size is usually small, allowing detailed accounts from each participant

Individual ReflectionsIndividual Reflections• In order to reflect on Phenomenology we have

included the links to our blogs for this week:

• Kendra:

kendra200129488.wordpress.com

• Christine:

christine556004623.wordpress.com

• Erica:

erica301016876.wordpress.com

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions• There are some people who argue that empathy

cannot be learned and is an innate quality. Do you agree or disagree and if so, how does a researcher know if he/she has “enough” empathy to embark in phenomenological inquiry?

• If all we can know is oneself (solipsism) what do you think the benefits are of researching subjective experiences?

• What are potential limitations of openly accepting participant’s point of view?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

• Phenomenology emphasizes description rather then interpretation of the participants experience. Do you think that a description is sufficient to capture the experience or do you think that interpretation is necessary for understanding.

• Notice the two opposing views on phenomenological research. How can one theory have two opposite views? Why do you think this is?

• How do you think one’s lifeworld would influence one’s relationships with others? How might a lifeworld promote or hinder positive relationship formation? Do you believe that we all have different lifeworlds?

ReferencesReferences• Todd, D., Simpson, J., & Murray, C. (2010). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of delusions in

people with Parkinson's disease. Disability & Rehabilitation, 32(15), 1291-1299. doi:10.3109/09638280903514705.

• Wertz, F. (2005). Phenomenological Research Methods for Counseling Psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 167-177. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.167.

• Hein, S., & Austin, W. (2001). Empirical and hermeneutic approaches to phenomenological research in psychology: A comparison. Psychological Methods, 6(1), 3-17. doi:10.1037/1082-989X.6.1.3.

• Bentz, V. M & Shapiro, J. J. (1998). Mindful inquiry in social research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

• Giorgi, A. (1997). The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 28(2), 235-260.

• Goulding, C. (1998). Consumer research, interpretive paradigms and methodological ambiguities. European Journal of Marketing, 33(9), 859-873.

• Laverty, S. M. (2003). Hermeneutic phenomenology and phenomenology: A comparison of historical and methodological considerations. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2(3). Article 3. Retrieved July 10, 2010 from http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/2_3final/pdf/laverty.pdf

• Wertz, F. J. (1999). Multiple methods in psychology: Epistemological grounding and the possibility of unity. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 19(2), 131-166.

• Burston, D. & Frie, R. (2006). Psychotherapy as a human science. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Duquesne University Press.

• Wimpenny, P. & Gass, J. (2000). Intervirewing in phenomenology and grounded theory: is there a difference? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 31(6). Retrieved from EBSCOHost.