A doctoral learner has decided to do a phenomenological study
A doctoral learner has decided to do a phenomenological study for his/her proposed dissertation research study topic because it is believed to be the best approach to address the research questions. The researcher chooses to conduct individual semi-structured interviews to generate the data. Will this generate the breadth and depth of the data necessary for this design? Why or why not? What challenges might the researcher encounter in collecting data from these sources? Explain. What other data sources should the researcher consider if needed to supplement the interview data? Explain.
Sample Solution
Phenomenology is an appropriate research design to use when the aim of the study is to uncover a participant’s unique lived experience and perspective on a given subject (Creswell, 2013). Therefore, in this case it would be suitable for understanding an individual’s point of view. Additionally, phenomenological studies are typically qualitative and rely heavily on interviewing as their primary source of data collection (Lester et al., 2019). This means that individual semi-structured interviews would indeed generate enough data for this study provided that each interviewee is able to articulate their experiences thoroughly.
However, there are certain challenges associated with using interviews for qualitative data collection which should be taken into account. Firstly, there may be some difficulty in finding participants who are willing and available to take part in the research owing to potential reluctance or lack of time due to other commitments (Berg & Lune, 2012). Secondly, ensuring that the researcher remains unbiased throughout each interview can also present problems since their own biases can affect how they interpret what they hear from participants (Patton et al., 2017). Lastly, there is always some risk involved with relying solely on verbal communication as opposed to more tangible forms such as writing or audio/visual recordings which could potentially provide further insight into the topic area being studied (McMillan & Schumacher, 2015).
In conclusion then, while semi-structured interviews may generate enough breadth and depth of data for a phenomenological research design there are still various challenges which must be addressed by those conducting such a study including participant availability/recruitment and remaining neutral during questioning. It is therefore important that researchers consider these issues carefully prior initiating any project so as not compromise its validity.
