1. Reflective & Empirical Methods Norm Friesen March, 2006

2. Reflective & Empirical Methods Reflection: thinking about the question and the phenomenon in a way that opens up its various aspects and dimensions. Empirical: sources of vicarious experience (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com) www.phenomenologyonline.com

3. Reflective & Empirical Reflective: –Thematic, Guided Existential, Collaborative, Linguistic, Exegetical, Hermeneutic Interview Empirical: –Describing, Gathering, Interviewing, Observing, Fictional, Imaginal (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

4. Thematic Reflection Themes: the constellations that make up the universes of meaning we live through. By the patterns and light of these themes we can navigate and explore such universes. Themes are heuristic. They are means "to get at" the phenomenon we are addressing. (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

5. Reflection: Guided Existential Lived Time: speeds up, slows down; e.g. of bank machine experience Lived Space: we are the space we’re in; e.g. of different architectural spaces Lived Body: Body as anchorage, way of being, as “object” of observation Lived Relation: relational “distance,” atmosphere, intensity, disconnection (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

6. Linguistic Reflection Etymological: histories of words often have rich, life-world significances (experiential residue) Conceptual: understanding differences in meaning in words & expressions. E.g. “Dog” (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

7. Dog-eat dog, underdog, Top dog, bottom dog

8. lap dog teacher's pet

9. Cur, pariah, bitch, dogsbody "you dirty dog,” flea bag mongrel, mutt, gone to the dogs

10. Dog tired

11. Exegetical critical, sensitive, and creative reading of related texts: –Prevailing theories and constructions as a “foil” for what you are searching for in phenomenological research –Prevailing theories and constructions can also point to phenomenological insights Creative, Accidental, Serendipitious sources (video example) (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

12. Other forms of Reflection Collaborative: as in this session, with others working together Insight-cultivating: from philosophy and other sources (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

13. Phenomenological Interview an interpretive conversation wherein both partners reflectively orient themselves to the interpersonal or collective ground that brings the significance of the phenomenological question into view Keep the question open (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

14. Phenomenological Interview Not structured; can list general questions or beginning script Close to the phenomenon, if possible Ask for reminiscences & speculation Steer away from explanation ASK: “what did you feel” not “what did you think” Comfortable location; follow-up interviews

15. Empirical Methods: Describing start with your own experience the patterns of meaning of one's own experiences are also the possible experiences of others, and therefore may be recognizable by others (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com) www.phenomenologyonline.com

16. Gathering Describe the experience as much as possible as you live(d) through it. Describe the experience from the inside, as it were-almost like a state of mind Focus on a particular example or incident of the object of experience Try to focus on an example of the experience which stands out for its vividness, or as it was the first time (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

17. Observing Close and participatory observation E.g. participate in the child’s world Similar to the attitude of the author who is always on the look-out for stories to tell, incidents to remember (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com)www.phenomenologyonline.com

18. Imaginal experiences Non-discursive artistic material as transformed experience E.g. experience of space in nature (from: Max van Manen, www.phenomenologyonline.com) www.phenomenologyonline.com