Qualitative Data Analysis for Health Research: A Step-by-Step Example of Phenomenological Interpretation

Abstract

Phenomenological studies have been critiqued when analytic activities and intersection with the underpinning philosophy lack clarity. This methodological discussion paper describes data analysis in hermeneutic interpretive phenomenology. Data management strategies (transcript preparation, coding, philosophy application, tabling/concept maps, and Microsoft Word) and data analysis processes (reduction, display, and conclusion drawing/verification) are illustrated. Deconstruction, reconstruction, and reorganisation of themes/subthemes using hierarchical heading styles to populate the navigation pane and philosophical tenets acted as analytic hooks. This paper has outlined data analysis in hermeneutic interpretive phenomenology, including the use of MS Word and its functionality, which was supported by other data display strategies to enhance data visualisation and verification. Techniques described are transferrable to other qualitative methodologies.

Chronic limb‐threatening ischaemia and confronting amputation: A Heideggerian derived understanding of Being‐with and discourse

“…We constantly and proactively challenged our assumptions arising from our clinical understandings by seeking negative case examples, returning to original transcripts for context and using the chosen philosophical lens as a way to elevate analysis beyond our own experiential foundations. An exhaustive description of the analytical processes of the overarching study is published elsewhere (Monaro et al, 2022). Figure 1 demonstrates the hermeneutic process of moving between the parts and the whole of data (circles to the right), while interpretation also required moving back and forth between the phenomenon of interest and elements of Heidegger's construct of Being-with (box to the left).…”

The racial pandemic experienced by Black American men: Cognitive–behavioral and structural implications.

“…Consistent with the postpositivist philosophy of science, the use of bracketing (embedded in the critical multiplist methods) embraced the postpositivist epistemological stance. Data analysis followed a phenomenological interpretive model of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification (Monaro et al, 2022). This phenomenological data analysis approach is described in the later articulation of coding and thematic analysis.…”

“…The present study was analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) and included the previously identified phenomenological interpretive steps (Monaro et al, 2022). First each transcript was read, and line-by-line coding was manually and independently conducted by two authors in an MS Word document (data reduction).…”

Teachers’ Lived Experiences of Workplace Violence and Harassment Committed by Learners from Selected High Schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…The SRQR requires qualitative researchers to specify the qualitative approach used, while the COREQ calls for researchers to state the methodological orientation guiding their studies. This study is an example of interpretative qualitative research, and because it is about lived experiences, it is an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) or interpretative phenomenology [ 32 , 33 ]. Interpretative phenomenology is informed by philosophers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, and Ricoeur.…”

“…Interpretative phenomenology is informed by philosophers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, and Ricoeur. It strives to openly communicate a deeper understanding of the hidden meanings of everyday life experiences, unlike descriptive phenomenology, guided by the work of Edmund Hussel, with its focus on the life world, which just describes obvious meaning [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”