The Phenomenological Research Method

Course Code: HS644E

Institution:

Social Work

Revision:

1.1

For students admitted fall 2012  

Other set versions

Approval

The course was established 08 March 2011.
This course syllabus (version 1.1) was approved 02 July 2012 by the Faculty Board of Health and Society.
The syllabus is valid from 03 September 2012. Replacement for course syllabus ratified 08 March 2011.

Education level

Second cycle

Course description

The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the descriptive phenomenological research method as modified and applied to the social- and human sciences as a qualitative research method.

Advancement in relation to the degree requirements

Free standing course.

Entry requirements

1. Bachelor´s degree, 180 credits.
2. English B in Swedish secondary school.

Learning outcomes

The course consists of two parts:

1. The phenomenological research method, 7,5 hp

After this part of the course the students should be able to
1. analyze and critically compare the different steps of the phenomenological philosophical method with the steps in the phenomenological human scientific method,
2. correctly articulate a phenomenological research purpose and research question, as well as appropriate questions for participants in preparation for qualitative phenomenological interviewing,
3. analyze qualitative interviews using the descriptive phenomenolgical human scientific method, and
4. argue for a phenomenological understanding of a human scientific phenomenon.

2. Phenomenological theory of science, 7 hp

After this part of the course the students should be able to
1. critically examine qualitative and quantitative methods from a phenomenological perspective
2. critically examine and critique variations in the theory of science as seen from the phenomenological perspective
3. compare and contrast different phenomenological qualitative methods and identify phenomenological criteria in relation to the phenomenological philosophical tradition
4. argue for a descriptive phenomenological human science

Assessments

The assessment of the students´ knowledge in part 1 will be based on traditional individual written assignments/exams for learning outcomes 1, 2, and 4, except for learning outcome number 3 which will based on the students ability to analyze data (in writing). The assessment of the students´ knowledge in part 2 will be based on traditional individual written assignments/exams for learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

ECTS Grading system for written assignments:
Grades that are used are pass with distinction (A, B), pass (C, D, E) and fail (FX, F) as specified below:
A = Excellent – outstanding performance with only minor errors
B = Very good – above average standard but with some errors
C = Good – generally sound work with a number of notable errors
D = Satisfactory – fair but with significant shortcomings
E = Sufficient – performance meets the minimum criteria
FX = Fail – some more work is required before credit can be awarded
F = Fail – considerable further work is required.

Course content

The course consists of two parts:

1. The phenomenological research method, 8 credits
The course has an underlying focus on the intricate relation between Edmund Husserl’s phenomenological philosophical method and Amedeo Giorgi’s modification of it for the purpose of qualitative human science. The primary purpose is to introduce the student to the theory and application of qualitative phenomenological interviewing and data analysis. The course helps preparing the student, as a necessary introduction, for qualitative research using a phenomenological approach.

2. Phenomenological theory of science, 7 credits
The second part of the course has a focus on phenomenological philosophy and the development of a phenomenological theory of science. Some of the foundations for a phenomenological theory of science are raised and seen in contrast to other qualitative and quantitative methods as well as other qualitative phenomenological research methods.

Learning activities

This course is a combination of an online and campus course. There are workshops, seminars and lectures offered at campus for students who are able to attend. However, the lectures will be recorded for the online alternative. Forums for discussion will be available on the course’s website.

Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Reading list and other media

1. The phenomenological research method

Giorgi, A. (2009). Descriptive Phenomenological Method in Psychology: A Modified Husserlian Approach. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press. 275 s.



Englander, M (2007). Persistent psychological meaning of early emotional memories. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, No 2. Vol 38, 181-216.



Englander, M (2012). The interview: data collection in descriptive phenomenological human science research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, No. 1, 43, 13-35. 22 pp.



Sokolowski, R (2006). Introduction to phenomenology. Cambridge University Press. 238 pp.

2. Phenomenological theory of science

Giorgi, A. (2010). Phenomenology and the practice of science. Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis, 21:1, 3-22, 19 s.



Giorgi, A. (2006). Concerning variations in the application of the phenomenological method. The Humanistic Psychologist, 34 (4), 305-319. 14 s.



Giorgi, A. (2002). The question of validity in qualitative research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 33:1, 1-18, 18 s.



Giorgi, A. (1992) Description versus interpretation: Competing alternative strategies for qualitative research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 23, 119-135. 16 pp.



Gurwitsch, A (1974). Phenomenology and the theory of science. Northwestern University Press. 272 pp.



Zahavi, D. (2002). Husserl´s phenomenology. Stanford University Press. 178 s.

Course evaluation

The course will be continually evaluated through reflection and feedback from the student regarding course content and implementation. At the end of the course the students will give an individual, written evaluation to express their views about the course based on the course aims and objectives and how these have been realized. The results from the evaluations will be summarized and presented to the students orally and in a protocol.