ABSTRACT

This book explores how, why and when hermeneutic phenomenology can be used as a methodology in health and social research.

Providing actual examples of doing robust hermeneutic phenomenology and a focus on praxis, the book demonstrates how philosophical or theoretical notions can inform, enrich and enhance our research projects. The chapters offer examples of many different research designs and interpretive decisions in order to illustrate the unbounded and creative nature of this type of inquiry, whilst also demonstrating the trustworthiness of the scientific processes adopted. The chapter authors invite the reader on a unique journey that highlights how they made individual and tailored decisions throughout their projects, emphasising the challenges and joys they encountered.

This book is a valuable resource for all students and academics who wish to explore the meaningfulness of human lived experiences across the multitude of phenomena in health and social care.

chapter 1|20 pages

Introduction

Situating hermeneutic phenomenology as research method in health, social care and education

chapter 5|19 pages

‘Distracted by, and immersed in the talk of others’

Expectations and experiences of childbirth in the framework of the “They”

chapter 6|18 pages

Seeking Heidegger in research data

Thinking about connections between philosophy and findings

chapter 7|22 pages

Embodied hermeneutic phenomenology

Bringing the lived body into health professions education research

chapter 8|16 pages

Dwelling in the fourfold

My way of being-in-the-world of Heidegger

chapter 9|19 pages

Working with phenomenon

Just keep swimming

chapter 11|16 pages

Straddling paradigms

A hermeneutic phenomenological exploration of the experience of midwives practising homeopathy

chapter 12|17 pages

Inseeing to the heart of the matter