Analysis phenomenology and application to nursing research [Chinese]

Abstract

Phenomenology has been divided into three schools of thought arising from different philosophical assumptions and methods. There is descriptive phenomenology, interpretative phenomenology, and a combination of both. Phenomenology has been adopted as a study method to explore experiences in different nursing fields in Taiwan. Husserlian descriptive phenomenology professes to utilize the skills of epoché, bracketing, and phenomenological reduction not only in order to seek the essence of phenomena, but also to allow the researcher to get into the participant's life-world to gain a deeper understanding of their experience; in other words, to let the true phenomenon or essence be revealed. By contrast, Heideggerian interpretative phenomenology rejected the idea that one can completely suspend one's presuppositions, prejudices or preconceived ideas by simply Being-in-the-world. One is immersed in and absorbing from the world, so one will not be able to notice everything that one is gaining from the world. Heidegger also insisted that any interpretation is only valid when background is taken into account. This not only facilitates the researcher's deeper understanding of the other's experience, but also facilitates more accurate interpretation of context and meaning. When researchers seek to follow Husserl's idea of performing bracketing in descriptive phenomenology, in order to truly put the concept into practice, they should understand their prior assumptions and maintain a written journal of reflections throughout the study.