Serious consideration is given to the possibility that the traditional quantitative research orientation in psychology can no longer be considered the panacea that it was once believed to be. It is argued that any research approach, such as a quantitative one, which gives priority to the methodology as opposed to the phenomenon is based on inappropriate ontological reduction. Consequently, it is argued that psychology should aim more at being a descriptive science rather than an explanatory one. The traditional research modus operandi is compared with that offered by a qualitative approach and examples of such research are provided. The article concludes by outlining a programmed series of steps considered fundamental to any form of rigorous phenomenological research.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarrellJ.J., & BarrellJ.E. (1975). A self-directed approach to a science of human experience. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 6 (1), 63–73.
2.
BeshaiJ.A. (1975). Is psychology a hermeneutic science?Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 5 (2), 425–439.
3.
CloonanT.F. (1971). Experiential and behavioral aspects of decision making. In GiorgiA., FischerW.F., & von EckartsbergR. (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Vol. 1 (pp. 112–131). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
4.
ColaizziP.F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In ValleR.S. & KingM. (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 48–71). New York: Oxford University Press.
5.
De KoningA.J.J. (1979). The qualitative method of research in the phenomenology of suspicion. In GiorgiA., KnowlesR., & SmithD.L. (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Vol 3 (pp. 122–134). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
6.
DublinJ.E. (1972). Language as expression of upright man: Toward a phenomenology of language and the lived body. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 2 (2), 141–160.
7.
DufrenneM. (1967). Language and metaphysics. In LawrenceN. & ConnorD. (Eds.), Readings in existential phenomenology (pp. 205–226). Englewood-Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
8.
FischerW.F. (1974). On the phenomenological mode of researching ‘being anxious’. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 4 (2), 405–423.
9.
GiorgiA. (1970). Psychology as a human science. New York: Harper & Row.
10.
GiorgiA. (1971). Phenomenology and experimental psychology: II. In GiorgiA., FischerW.F., & von EckartsbergR. (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Vol. 1 (pp. 17–29). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
11.
GiorgiA. (1978a). Phenomenology and psychological research. A paper presented at Duquesne University's Special Centennial Symposium on Phenomenology and Psychology.
12.
GiorgiA. (1978b). Problems encountered in developing a phenomenological approach to research in psychology. In FransellaF. (Ed.), Personal construct psychology (pp. 7–23). London: Academic Press.
13.
GiorgiA. (1985). Phenomenology and psychological research. Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
14.
HusserlE. (1962). Ideas: general introduction to pure phenomenology. New York: Collier.
15.
KuhnT.S. (1970). The structure of scientific revolutions. (2nd ed.) Chicago: Chicago University Press.
16.
KullmanM., & TaylorC. (1966). The pre-objective world. In NatansonM. (Ed.), Essays in phenomenology (pp. 116–136). The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.
17.
MarksonE.W., & Gognalons-CaillardM. (1971). Talks with Father William. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 1 (2), 193–208.
18.
Merleau-PontyM. (1962). Phenomenology of perception. New York: Humanities Press.
19.
MunroM.M. (1975). The meaning of ordination for a sample of united Methodist ministers: A phenomenological exploration. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Boston University Graduate School, Boston.
20.
OrneM.T. (1962). On the social psychology of the psychological experiment with particular reference to demand characteristics and their implications. American Psychologist, 17, 776–783.
21.
RomanyshynR.D. (1975). Metaphors and human behavior. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 5 (2), 441–446.
22.
RosenthalR. (1966). Experimental effects in behavioral research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
23.
SardelloR.J. (1971). A reciprocal participation model of experimentation. In GiorgiA., FischerW.F., & von EckartsbergR. (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Vol. I (pp. 58–65). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
24.
StevickE.L. (1971). An empirical investigation of the experience of anger. In GiorgiA., FischerW.F., & von EckartsbergR. (Eds.), Duquesne studies in phenomenological psychology: Vol. I (pp. 132–148). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.
ValleR.S., & KingM. (1978). An introduction to existential-phenomenological thought in psychology. In ValleR.S. & KingM. (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 6–17). New York: Oxford University Press.
27.
Van KaamA.L. (1958). The experience of really feeling understood by a person. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
28.
Von EckartsbergR. (1972). Experiential psychology: A descriptive protocol and a reflection. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 2 (2), 161–173.
29.
WongE. (1975). Visual and tactile perception reconsidered: From an empirical — phenomenological perspective. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 6 (1), 75–87.
30.
ZillerR.C., & SmithD.E. (1977). A phenomenological utilization of photographs. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 7 (2), 172–182.
