From phenomenology to practice

Abstract

As phenomenology rests on, and is informed by, a long and deep philosophical heritage, this chapter outlines some distinctions about phenomenology setting it conceptually apart from other qualitative methods. The chapter offers some ways of defining what a phenomenological approach is and what this means in the pursuit of enquiry. We illustrate how the philosophical considerations of a phenomenological approach are translated into specific methods and procedures for carrying out research in the human sciences and we specifically make a case for descriptive phenomenological enquiry. A key area for the purpose of this chapter is how Husserl offers us firstly a way to use ‘the life-world’ as a source of knowledge, and secondly an emphasis that is not focused on articulating theory but is instead a beneficial way of describing the whatness or quiddity of a phenomenon as it appears, deepening understanding the phenomenon and its essential features. The chapter also points to new directions in phenomenology and provides examples and illustration from published phenomenological research studies.

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