Types of Phenomenological Research: A Comprehensive Guide

Phenomenology is a philosophy that gives a theoretical guideline to a researcher to understand a respondent’s personal experiences. The investigator can employ interviews, observations, or discussions as data collection strategies within a phenomenological area of inquiry. If you are looking for help with phenomenological research, our expert writers extract information to gain insights on individual experiences and derive insights from them to illustrate why they act the way that they act. This article is a guide to the types of phenomenological qualitative research, how to conduct the research, the structure of a phenomenological paper, and an example for reference.

Phenomenology Definition

Phenomenology research is the process of understanding an individual’s perception of a particular phenomenon through qualitative methods such as interviews or focus groups. It was developed by the German philosopher Edmond Husserl [1859-1938] in the 20th century, who aimed to make philosophy a precise science field by relying on real experiences for research rather than assumptions. The purpose of the phenomenological approach is to explain phenomena as they are experienced by individuals in certain situations.

Types of Phenomenology Qualitative Research

Virginia Braun is a psychology professor at the University of Auckland who noted that even though there are multiple types of phenomenology, the qualitative research method typically involves understanding an individual’s experiences. However, there are two main types of phenomenological research, and they are:

(1). Transcendental phenomenology

Transcendental phenomenology, developed by Edmund Husserl, is where the researcher analyzes the subjective experience of awareness with regard to individual experiences. It is grounded in the concept of eliminating any possible assumptions to understand phenomena from a fresh perspective, thereby allowing the true meaning of the experience to emerge within its own identity naturally. Though philosophically sensible, this approach lacks clarity even when defined.

(2). Hermeneutical phenomenology

Hermeneutical phenomenology refers to the study of personal experience and requires a description of the meanings of phenomena experienced by participants in an investigation. It is concerned with the human experience as it is lived. The focus is on illuminating details and trivial aspects within experience that may be overlooked with the goal of creating meaning and achieving a sense of understanding.