Doing Phenomenological Research and Writing

Area of Science:

• Philosophy
• Human Sciences
• Phenomenology

Background:

• Phenomenology publications in human science and philosophy journals appear inconsistent.
• Existing literature lacks clear categorization, making it difficult to navigate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a framework for understanding the diverse landscape of phenomenology research.
• To differentiate between foundational works, exegetical studies, and direct phenomenological investigations.
• To clarify the practice of "doing phenomenology directly on the phenomena."

Main Methods:

• Categorization of phenomenology publications into three distinct types.
• Analysis of the core principles of direct phenomenological inquiry.
• Exploration of the attitude and awareness required for phenomenological research.

Main Results:

• Identified three key categories: foundational publications, exegetical works, and direct phenomenological studies.
• Argued that direct engagement with phenomena, through attentive awareness, is crucial.
• Proposed that philosophical exegesis and argumentation are less effective for explicating experiential phenomena.

Conclusions:

• A clear distinction between types of phenomenology research aids in understanding the field.
• "Doing phenomenology directly" involves a specific attentive attitude towards lived experience.
• Phenomenologically inspired interpretation and skillful use of examples facilitate direct phenomenological study.