Husserl and Heidegger’s PhenomenologyPhenomenology refers both to philosophical framework and to epistemological orientation. As epistemology, phenomenology has had major implications for the social sciences, providing the fundamental tenets and methods for qualitative research. Originator of the phenomenological approach, Husserl proposed that human consciousness undergirds experience, but that both must be transcended, acknowledged, and set aside in order to reach the truth of any given phenomenon. Husserl therefore favored the use of descriptive methods, which aim for objectivity as much as possible. Husserl’s student Martin Heidegger rejected the notion that it was even possible at all to ascertain some objective understanding (Reiners, 2012). Instead, Heidegger celebrated what individual ascriptions of meaning had to offer when interpreting phenomena. Whereas Husserl’s epistemology is concerned with how and why people feel, think, or believe what they do, Heidegger’s ontological and hermeneutical methods are more concerned with discerning the nature of consciousness itself and the conclusions that can be drawn from lived experience. Husserl’s work went on to inform descriptive research methods used in the social sciences, whereas Heidegger’s work gave rise to interpretive research methods. Research methods like interviews can be used with either a descriptive or an interpretive approach to phenomenological psychology.
Descriptive (Husserl-based) Phenomenological Methods
Descriptive phenomenological research methods emerged from Husserl. The main tenets of descriptive phenomenological methods are to allow the participants to share their descriptions and thereby construct the lived experience independently of the researcher’s own background, perspective, or biases. Conclusions can be drawn from a set of data collected from methods such as interviewing. One goal of descriptive phenomenological research is the construction of meaning based on the phenomena of lived experiences. Phenomenological researchers like Giorgi (2007) developed systematic...
The metaphysical constructivists who are successful hardly take the truth of a substantive normative claim for granted. Transcendence In his phenomenological descriptions, Levinas used various accounts of transcendence to refer to the tradition and divergence of phenomenology in relation to Heidegger. His transcendences enacted the irreducible urge by oneself to get past the limitations of their social and physical states or conditions. Transcendence of the Other as described by Levinas is
Empathy and rapport with subject has to be profound, particularly where the researcher may have a priori thoughts or personal stakes with the matter at hand. If the latter exists, it may be better that she not do the research. Analysis of the research can be somewhat daunting given the vast amount of material (interview notes, tape-recording, jottings etc.) generated by the interviews. The way one goes about this is
Grounded theory and phenomenology Phenomenology and Grounded theory are the most widely recognized methodologies to qualitative research utilized by medical practitioners. Despite the fact that there are distinctions between the two, they have share much in common. Both assume an interpretivist strategy in which the researcher tries to investigate genuine scenarios, and require a high level of face-to-face interaction between the researcher and the group or individual being analyzed. This is
Philosophical Overview and Underpinnings The way we think about a phenomenon has greatly and definitely been influenced by phenomenology which is a school of philosophy with wide spread recognition. Phenomenology which has its origins in European disciplines remains one of the most debated and most sought after interesting debates of this century. It has received immense worldwide recognition and it has application in nearly all subjects such as science and technology,
Does the research refine or add to a new theory? The research adds to the quantitative material on the subject by adopting a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Suicide has increased alarmingly amongst African-American males (Thomas, 2009). The maternal voice is rarely, if ever, heard; Granting mothers of suicide victims this opportunity can help both practical and theoretical applied research in that social workers and counseling programs can be better structured to help
This object, though, sets in human consciousness in many divergent ways -- perception, memory, retention, etc. Depending on the manner in which the idea is intentional, the object may be identical but interpreted different and thus a divergent sense of reality for individuals. Opposite of Descartes and Kant, there is no one finite way of describing this object and it is entirely dependent upon the method of reduction and
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