Phenomenological Praxis: A Constructive Alternative in Research in Psychology

Abstract

Serious consideration is given to the possibility that the traditional quantitative research orientation in psychology can no longer be considered the panacea that it was once believed to be. It is argued that any research approach, such as a quantitative one, which gives priority to the methodology as opposed to the phenomenon is based on inappropriate ontological reduction. Consequently, it is argued that psychology should aim more at being a descriptive science rather than an explanatory one. The traditional research modus operandi is compared with that offered by a qualitative approach and examples of such research are provided. The article concludes by outlining a programmed series of steps considered fundamental to any form of rigorous phenomenological research.S. Afr. J. Psycho/. 1986, 16: 117 -121 Die moontlikheid word ernstig oorweeg dat die tradisionele kwantitatiewe navorsingsorientasie in die sielkunde nie meer beskou kan word as die panasee wat dit voorheen veronderstel was om te wees nie. Daar word aangevoer dat enige navorsingsbenadering, soos 'n kwantitatiewe een, wat voorkeur gee aan metodologie eerder as die fenomeen, op onvanpaste ontologiese reduksie gebaseer is. Gevolglik word daar aangevoer dat die sielkunde moet poog om 'n beskrywende eerder as 'n verklarende wetenskap te wees. Die modus operandi van tradisionele navorsing word vergelyk met die van 'n kwalitatiewe benadering en voorbeelde van toepaslike navorsing word verskaf. Ten slotte bied die artikel 'n beskrywing aan van 'n reeks stappe wat as fundamenteel beskou word in enige vorm van betroubare fenomenologiese navorsing.

Stigma and the self‐concept of people with a mild mental handicap

“…The authors have spent much time conducting participant observation in various types of settings which has helped us in the subsequent interpretation of the material obtained through intensive interviews. In the interpretation, they followed the practice for phenomenologically inspired research suggested by Stones (1986): (a) the research should entail a description of experience or meaning structure, that is, the phenomenon in its lived-in context; (b) explication of the protocols should be concerned with the meaning of the data from the participant perspective; and (c) essential themes should be extracted in their varying manifestations. (Stones, 1986;p.121) Having obtained the essential themes using Stones' method, more traditional quantitative methods were applied in order to explore the relationships between these themes and several aspects of the life of people with a mental handicap.…”

Needs Experienced by Persons with Late Stage AIDS

“…and/or low CD 4 counts were considered to have direct experience of late stage AIDS. All twelve subjects selected were fluent in English (the language interviews were conducted in) and only one interview had to be rejected because pervasive denial obstructed the ability to articulate the experience of late stage AIDS openly to the interviewer, as required in qualitative phenomenological studies of this nature (Giorgi, 1985;Stones, 1986).…”

Mental Health of Women Political Repatriates

“…5-6) Phenomenologists maintain that social scientists should achieve greater precision through a more exact delineation of meanings (Kruger, 1988). The initial step in data analysis is to organize information into natural Meaning Units (Stones, 1986). Secondly, a participant engages in a joint construction of meanings which are negotiated by both participants until such time as there is an agreement on the meanings of the narrations.…”