Doing Hermeneutic Phenomenological Research: A Practical Guide

This practical guide offers an approachable introduction to doing hermeneutic phenomenological research across the health and social sciences. Grounded in real world research, it integrates philosophy, methodology and method in accessible ways, helping you realize the potential of using phenomenology to guide research.

The book maps the complete research process and shows how to apply key philosophical tenets to your project, demonstrating the close relationship between philosophy and research practice. It:

• Shows step-by-step how to translate philosophy into research methodology and turn methodology into robust research design
• Focuses on applied practice, illustrating theoretical discussions with examples and case studies
• Promotes advanced thinking about hermeneutic phenomenology in an easy to understand way
• Highlights the need for researchers to engage reflexively with the whole research process.

Lesley Dibley is Reader in Nursing Research and Education, who also leads the Centre for Chronic Illness and Ageing in the Institute for Lifecourse Development at the University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. She  was awarded her PhD in 2014 for an interpretive phenomenology study of the experience of stigma in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has recently completed another funded project on the experience of kinship (family) stigma in IBD and has other active projects including an exploration of the experiences of young adults living with long fusion for idiopathic scoliosis, the experience of adjustment to intestinal stoma in people with IBD, and complex care needs of older people with IBD. Lesley teaches qualitative methods to undergraduates, phenomenology theory to postgraduates, and supervises Masters and PhD students. She publishes regularly in high impact international journals and presents at national and international conferences.

Suzanne Dickerson is a Professor and Department Chair of Bio-behavioural Health and Clinical Science at the University at Buffalo, School of Nursing.  Her current research focuses on sleep science with the goal of understanding patients’ contextual meaning of sleep-wake disturbances through hermeneutical phenomenology.  This insight forms the basis of new knowledge that can be instrumental in translating clinical research to practice that embeds meaningful approaches into care practices to improve sleep. She has developed an online course in the methodology and mentors PhD and visiting faculty in the approach.  She is a senior member of the hermeneutic phenomenology institute group and mentors other members as well.

Mel Duffy is Assistant Professor in Sociology and Sexuality Studies in the School of Nursing Psychotherapy & Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. She teaches courses in sociology and sexuality studies at both undergraduate and graduate level.  After completing her PhD in DCU in 2008, she has pursued an active research programme in qualitative research, with a particular focus on hermeneutic phenomenology.  Her work focusses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex individuals’ experiences of living their lives in the world they find themselves in, writing and presenting on: lesbian health and health care; coming out; relationship and sexuality education; disability; identity; residential care and experiences of health outcomes.  She holds a BA and an MA by research from National University of Ireland, Maynooth and PhD from Dublin City University.

Roxanne Vandermause is the Interim Dean, Professor and the Donald L. Ross Endowed Chair for Advancing Nursing Practice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Nursing. Her research involves the use of hermeneutical phenomenology and mixed methods to study addictions and racial/ethnic and gender disparities in care for mental health and other chronic conditions. She has presented across the U.S. and internationally and published widely in various venues. She teaches all educational levels in nursing and across various graduate-level disciplines, including coursework in ethics, theory and qualitative methodologies. Many of her PhD students use hermeneutical phenomenological methods to study human phenomena in the context of health and well-being and she is sought after for her expertise in these methods.