Phenomenologically-informed inquiry in physical rehabilitation: how to do documentation and interpretation of qualitative data

Abstract

In this didactic paper, I offer an example of how we can use a phenomenologically-informed sociological approach to analyse ethnographic and interview data from a clinical encounter. I show that the value of this approach is not that we will reach a more accurate interpretation of qualitative data, but that it opens up multiple ways of seeing and interpreting thus challenging us to re-think our scientific and lay assumptions. By explicating the interpretation process, I hope to increase awareness of how theoretical and practice assumptions may hinder deep, nuanced, and new understandings of clinical encounters. In doing so, physiotherapists and other health professionals can see the value of seeing clinical encounters beyond clinical models and ask questions of how they understand their work environments and clients.

Keywords:

• Phenomenology
• Qualitative methods
• Spinal cord injury
• Sociology
• Rehabilitation professionals

I am indebted to my research informants for their trust and insights into my research and life. I thank David A. Stone for helping me think through and articulate my way to phenomenology, and for the emotional support to carry this work forward. Finally, I thank Dr Barbara Gibson and the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions on earlier versions of this paper.