Book Review
Hermeneutic phenomenological research: A practical guide for nurse researchers
Marlene Zichi Cohen, David L Kahn and Richard Harold Steeves
ISBN: 0-761917-20-9; 2000; 128 pages; Sage Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks;
Kevin Rouse
Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide SA
This easy to read and practically orientated book is a surprising experience. It is surprising as the reader is spared the philosophical complexities of phenomenological thought, that can be found elsewhere, and instead the authors deal with the difficult problems associated with the practical concerns of 'doing phenomenology'. A draw card for this book lies in its potential to assist students and beginning researchers in coming to terms with some of the most fundamental and practical issues involved in conducting phenomenological research. This practical information is often difficult to locate in the literature and certainly not within the one book.
The book commences with a brief historical sketch and introduction to both the most notable thinkers and some of the language of phenomenology. The introduction clarifies the purpose of the book and the particular orientation to phenomenology. A short chapter that focuses on some of the most common concerns of proposal writing, budgeting and funding follows. The authors cite some examples from their own experience's to help the reader foresee and circumvent potential problems in field research. The importance of understanding the power structure, channels of communication and culture of a clinical field setting are discussed so that the potential for productive field access is enhanced.
The difficult area of sampling and sample size are discussed in terms of the research participant's experience of place, events and language. This is presented with reference to the author's own research experience's. Practical advice is offered regarding the how to of, interviewing, participant observation and the keeping of field notes. The complicated process of hermeneutic analysis is succinctly described with examples of transcribed text and subsequent phenomenological reduction from actual research projects. The treacherous ground of bias in qualitative research is addressed by exploring both the significance of the interpreters prejudice and the ways of demonstrating rigour to outside scrutiny. Finally the authors offer some guidance in how to write up the phenomenological study.
This book is concise in giving the reader a conceptual and practical overview of conducting a phenomenological research project. Such conciseness and ease of reading will assist many students and beginning researchers in gaining an overview of both the research journey and destination ahead. The book provides a sound starting place for those contemplating or embarking on phenomenological research. The book can be used as a map or guide to help facilitate a journey. Viewed this way the book could provide the beginning researcher with a valuable understanding of how to stay on the path or indeed to clarify if it is in fact the path they want to travel.
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