1. Phenomenology
Aoife Moran

2. Definition
Phenomenology is a qualitative research method, which allows the meaning that people attribute to illness to be revealed from the perspective of the people who are living the experience (Cohen, 2000).

3. Descriptive Phenomenology
Edmund Husserl ( ).
Epistemological perspective.
Description of the meaning of being.
External world of the person.
Pre-suppositionless approach.
Bracketing / Phenomenological reduction.

4. Bracketing
The suspension of belief in the outer world, either as the individual sees it or as the researcher may interpret it.
Total isolation from the social, cultural and historical traditions of the participant.

5. Interpretive /Hermeneutical Phenomenology
Martin Heidegger ( ).
Ontological perspective.
Meaning of being in the world is constituted by the meaningful relationships, practices and language of the person.
Presuppositions & assumptions of researcher guide the research.
Bracketing is not attempted.
Interpretation ensures a more in-depth understanding of the meaning of being in the world emerges.

6. Sampling
Select people who provide a picture of what it is like to make sense of an important experience.
Purposive sampling.
Non-probability sampling strategy.
Small sample size.
Saturation.
Rich, in-depth description.

7. Data Collection In-depth interviews. Narratives Observations.
Personal documents- Diaries, portfolios, photographs, poetry.
Case studies
Focus Groups
Typically composed of 7-10 participants selected based on characteristics they have in common.

8. Data Analysis Comprehending Coding Synthesising Categorising
Recontextualising
Developing themes
Theorising
Linking to existing theory
Morse (1994)

9. Rigour
Reduce potential bias and accurately reflect participants perspective.
Diary of critical reflection.
Heightened awareness of presuppositions of researcher.
Acknowledge bias.
Credibility- prolonged engagement with participants, confirm data with participants.

10. Rigour Confirmability- employing other researchers to scrutinize data.
Applicability/Fittingness- probability that findings have meaning to similar situations.
Auditability- accurate and comprehensive notes on all stages of the research study.