OrientationObservationIn-depth interviewsDocument analysis and semiologyConversation and discourse analysisSecondary Data
SurveysExperimentsEthicsResearch outcomes
Conclusion
8.2.6 Phenomenology and surveys Phenomenologists tend not use surveys because they artificially curtail the expression of the lived experience of subjects. Phenomenologists, for example, would like respondents to describe their experiences in detail including their reactions to their experiences. A formal interview schedule or a questionnaire with closed questions limit the scope of any response and even open questions tend to be very narrow and specific, based on the researcher preconceptions.
In gathering phenomenological data the researcher tries to be as non-directive as possible. As Janet Waters (nd, np) stated:
Unlike a survey or questionnaire, in a phenomenological study you would ask participants to describe their experience of, for example, "riding on a BC Ferry", without directing or suggesting their description in any way. However, do encourage your participant to give a full description of their experience, including their thoughts, feelings, images, sensations, memories–their stream of consciousness–along with a description of the situation in which the experience occurred. You may need to ask for clarification of details on the self-report or interview. If so, your follow up questions should again ask for further description of the detail, without suggesting what you are looking for.
There is also a detailed exchange (available on the Internet) addressing the issue of whether an online survey method could be used in phenomenological research (see ResearchGate (accessed 3 February 2016)). The view, overall, is that it is not possible for a fullly phenomenological approach, albeit that some pschological interpretations of phenomenology might be amenable to a survey.
Others have suggested that as part of a multistage research design, surveys can be used in phenomenological research. However, the examples tend to reveal that in fact the 'phenomenological' stage is qualitative data collection used to design a survey instrument intent on providing quantitative results.
For example, Tristan Davison (2014, p. 1) described his research as follows:
The staged multi-design used in the study used an interview process, interviewing bankers, regulators, and consultants to provide a source of validity through triangulation of the thoughts and ideas of each group of interviewees. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcribed data was analyzed for themes and used to develop a survey to be administered to a sample of senior bank executives. The survey reached approximately 25 respondents in Central Florida. The interviews were the qualitative portion of the research and the survey provided the quantitative portion of the research.
The study concludes by presenting an outline of the data analysis, for example:
Based on the evidence of correlation between the sub-questions for questions three and four, and between questions three and five, there was a connection between a systems theory perspective and implementation of strategy.
Based on the evidence of correlation between sub-questions for questions three and seven, a systems theory perspective applied not only to information coming into a firm but to information going out. Based on the evidence of correlation between sub-questions for questions three and nine, the respondents felt there was a breach in the system between the regulators and the banks. The regulators did not see the bankers' perspective, and the bankers did not see the regulators' perspective. (Davison, 2014, pp. 7–8)
This does not fit with most people's conception of phenomenological research. Indeed it is basically the approach frequently adopted when drawing up a questionnaire; that is using qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews or focus groups, to determine the scope of the issue under consideration and to provide the categories that are subsequently turned into questions on a survey.
