Introduction to Phenomenology

Cheryl Tatano Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN is a distinguished professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Connecticut. Her program of research is focused on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She has developed the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) from her series of qualitative studies on postpartum depression. She also has developed a theory of traumatic childbirth, called the Ever Widening Ripple Effect. This midrange theory is based on her series of qualitative studies on traumatic childbirth and its resulting PTSD. She serves on the editorial board of Global Qualitative Nursing Research, Journal of Perinatal Education and Advances in Nursing Science. She has written:Beck, C. T. (2016). Developing a Program of Research in Nursing. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Long, T. & Beck CT (2017). Writing in nursing: A brief guide. New York: Oxford University Press. Beck, C. T., Driscoll, J. W., & Watson, S. (2013). Traumatic childbirth. New York: Routledge. Beck, C.T. (Ed.) (2013). Routledge International Handbook of Qualitative Nursing Research. New York: Routledge.Beck, C.T. & Driscoll, J.W. (2006). Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders: A clinician’s guide. Sudbury, Ma.: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Polit, D. F., & Beck, C.T. (2018). Essentials of Nursing Research: Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice. (9th Ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams, & Wilkins. Polit, D. F., & Beck, C.T. (2017). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th Ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

The structural flow of the text makes perfect sense. Beginning with the basic underpinnings, it offers explanations of "why" different methods based on underpinnings exist. Examples help solidify these concepts, which are often overwhelming and unorganized. This text has them all in one place, explained concisely, and provides proper cause/format to compare/contrast to assist in understanding which methodology makes logical sense to use for answering your research question.

• List of Tables and FiguresAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorChapter 1. IntroductionPart 1. Philosophical Underpinnings of the MethodologyChapter 2. Philosophy of PhenomenologyEdmund HusserlMartin HeideggerMaurice Merleau-PontyHans-Georg GadamerPart 2. Descriptive PhenomenologyChapter 3. Paul Colaizzi’s Descriptive Phenomenological MethodologyResearch QuestionSampleData CollectionData AnalysisThe Lived Experience of Postpartum DepressionExamples of Research from Various DisciplinesChapter 4. Amedeo Giorgi’s Descriptive Phenomenological MethodologyResearch QuestionSampleData CollectionData AnalysisExamples of Published Studies Using Giorgi’s Descriptive Phenomenological MethodologyChapter 5. Adrian van Kaam’s Descriptive Phenomenological Methodology and Clark Moustakas’s ModificationResearch QuestionSampleData CollectionData AnalysisExamples of a Study from My Program of ResearchAdditional Examples of Studies Using Van Kaam’s Descriptive Phenomenological ApproachClark Moustakas’s Modification of van Kaam’s ApproachExamples of Moustakas’s Modification of Van Kaam’s ApproachComparison of van Kaam’s Methodology and Moustakas’s ModificationChapter 6. Karin Dahlberg’s Descriptive Phenomenological Reflective Lifeworld ResearchIntroduction to the Reflective Lifeworld MethodologyDescriptive Phenomenological Reflective Lifeworld ApproachComparison of Five Descriptive Phenomenological MethodologiesChoosing one of the Descriptive Phenomenological MethodsPart 3. Interpretive PhenomenologyChapter 7. Max van Manen’s Hermeneutic Phenomenological ApproachResearch QuestionSampleData CollectionData AnalysisExamples of International Research from Various Disciplines Using Van Manen’s MethodologyChapter 8. Patricia Benner’s Interpretive Phenomenological MethodologySampleData AnalysisInternational Examples of Studies Using Benner’s Interpretive Phenomenological MethodologyChapter 9. Jonathan Smith’s Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)Research QuestionsSampleData CollectionData AnalysisInternational Examples of IPA Research from Various DisciplinesChapter 10. Karin Dahlberg’s Hermeneutic Reflective Lifeworld Research MethodologyHermeneutic Reflective Lifeworld MethodologyComparison of the Four Interpretive Phenomenological MethodologiesChoosing One of the Interpretive Phenomenological MethodologiesPart 4. Evaluating, Writing, and Teaching PhenomenologyChapter 11. Trustworthiness in Qualitative ResearchTrustworthiness vs. Reliability and ValidityStrategies for Enhancing QualityCriteria for Evaluating Phenomenological ResearchCriteria for Evaluating Qualitative Research in GeneralStudent Exercise for Evaluating a Phenomenological StudyChapter 12. Phenomenological WritingStrategiesFiguresQualitative Reporting ChecklistsEnd-of-Chapter Study ActivitiesChapter 13. Developing a Program of Research Using PhenomenologyChapter 14. Teaching Phenomenology: Preparing Our Next Generation of ResearchersOther Faculty Members’ Teaching StrategiesMy Teaching StrategiesPhenomenology TipsGlossaryAppendix A. First Study Activity for StudentsAppendix B. Second Study Activity for StudentsAppendix C. Mothers’ Experiences of Posttraumatic Growth Following Traumatic Childbirth: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study ProposalAppendix D. The Impact of Traumatic Birth on Mothers Caring for Their Children: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study ProposalIndex