Varieties of Phenomenological Research at the University of Dallas: An Emerging Typology

Abstract

This article seeks to describe what characterizes phenomenological research as ‘phenomenological,’ especially in relation to the more general term, ‘qualitative research.’ Following research techniques being developed at the University of Dallas as a legacy of the ‘Duquesne school’ of phenomenological research, this article presents Giorgi's description of what he takes to be central features of a phenomenological method: description, use of the phenomenological reduction, consideration of intentionality, the disclosure of essences or structures as results, and the necessity that the researcher holds a psychological perspective in reference to the data (1985, 2003 [with B. Giorgi]). The article then describes several varieties of phenomenological research being practiced at the University of Dallas in terms of their subject matter, data, intentional or meaning relations being investigated, and the knowledge claims made. Common threads amongst the presented variety of phenomenological inquiry are discussed.

Keywords:

• archival research
• attitude research
• epistemology
• experiential research
• intentional ethnographic research
• phenomenology
• phenomenological research

Notes

¹The questions of whether, how, and to what extent the interpretive frame of reference of the researcher impacts the structure and findings of the research have been taken up by many thinkers in many ways, perhaps most notably through the notion of ‘reflexivity.’ Coined by Thomas (1923) as the Thomas theorem, that those situations deemed true by persons become true for those persons, this notion has been subsequently examined by many including Nagle (1961) and more recently by Finlay and Gough (2003). This work will address this concern through the character of phenomenological research in the Duquesne tradition as an explicitly hermeneutic (versus pure or transcendental) phenomenology. This represents an adherence to a Heideggerian, existential tradition whose points of departure from a Husserlean model will be discussed more fully below.

2See, e.g., Kendler (2005) and my response to his position (Garza, 2006). Giorgi (1985) also addresses criteria by which he feels both phenomenological and natural science psychological research and are scientific.

3I should state here that the research carried out at the University of Dallas is not monolithic in its approach. What follows here are broad parameters that hold true for most, if not all, of the research we conduct. While these broad parameters might hold true for all of the research we do, individual authors may vary in their interpretations of these parameters.

⁴For a more comprehensive treatment of the distinctions and relationships between sein gefragtes, ein befragtes, and das erfragte as related to phenomenological research, see Churchill (2006b) and Churchill and Rao (2004).

⁵This and all unpublished research cited in this work can be obtained for examination by request from the author of this article.

⁶I deliberately invoke the language of ethnography versus ethography in light of the latter's claims to study behavior objectively and the former's focus on the social and cultural aspects of behavior (see, e.g., Sommer and Sommer, 2002, or Vogt, 2005, for more on this distinction). Given Merleau-Ponty's assertion that the behaviors of an organism are comprehensible only in light of the milieu that they address and the emphasis of this research on intentionality, ethnography seems the better term by which to characterize this style of inquiry.

Conkle, J.L. 2007: Work and family: An existential-phenomenological inquiry into women's experiences of the work-family conflict. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Dallas, Irving, TX.

DeAses, D. 2003: Worlds apart: A hermeneutical-phenomenological perspective on the relational aspect of involuntary spousal separation due to military deployment. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. University of Dallas, Irving, TX.

Denis, M. 2003: Choosing to be free: A phenomenological investigation of African American slaves' understanding of freedom within the bounds of their facticity. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. University of Dallas, Irving. TX.

Dominguez, E. 2001: The structure of interpersonal trust as expressed bodily between an infant and his or her parent: An existential-phenomenological study. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. University of Dallas, Irving. TX.

Forseth, J. 2004: A hermeneutical-phenomenological inquiry into the life-world and interpersonal style of Bonnie Parker as revealed in journal entries and letters written to Clyde Barrow. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. University of Dallas, Irving, TX.

Gent, L.M. 2002: Consciousness in animals: A phenomenological investigation of intentionality of behavior in chimpanzees. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Dallas, Irving, TX.

McSpadden, E.L. 2005: Girls gone wild: An inquiry into concepts of womanhood in women who smoke. Unpublished masters thesis. University of Dallas, Irving, TX.

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Wiesinger, C.M. 2004: A phenomenological case study of lived dissonance in matters of one's faith. Unpublished undergraduate thesis. University of Dallas, Irving, TX.