Crafting stories in hermeneutic phenomenology research: a methodological device.

Crowther, Susan; Ironside, Pam; Spence, Deb; Smythe, Liz

Abstract

Hermeneutic phenomenology, as a methodology, is not fixed. Inherent in its enactment are contested areas of practice such as how interview data are used and reported. Using philosophical notions drawn from hermeneutic phenomenological literature, we argue that working with crafted stories is congruent with the philosophical underpinnings of this methodology. We consider how the practical ontic undertaking of story crafting from verbatim transcripts is integral with the interpretive process. We show how verbatim transcripts can be crafted into stories through examples taken from interview data. Our aim is to open dialogue with other hermeneutic phenomenological researchers and offer alternate possibilities to conventional ways of work with qualitative data. We argue that crafted stories can provide glimpses of phenomena that other forms of data analysis and presentation may leave hidden. We contend that crafted stories are an acceptable and trustworthy methodological device.

Citation

CROWTHER, S., IRONSIDE, P., SPENCE, D. and SMYTHE, L. 2017. Crafting stories in hermeneutic phenomenology research: a methodological device. Qualitative health research [online], 27(6), pages 826-835. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316656161

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 26, 2016
• Publication Date: May 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 30, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 30, 2016
• Journal: Qualitative health research
• Print ISSN: 1049-7323
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-7557
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 826-835
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316656161
• Keywords: Interpretive methods; Phenomenology; Hermeneutics; Stories; Interview data; Lived experiences; Qualitative
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1525
• Related Public URLs: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/246014