Drowning in Muddied Waters or Swimming Downstream?: A Critical Analysis of Literature Reviewing in a Phenomenological Study through an Exploration of the Lifeworld, Reflexivity and Role of the Researcher. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fry, Jane; Scammell, Janet; Barker, Sue
• Is Part Of: Indo-Pacific journal of phenomenology. Volume 17:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Phenomenology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 142.705
• DOI: 10.1080/20797222.2017.1293355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2079-7222

Abstract

Abstract: This paper proceeds from examining the debate regarding the question of whether a systematic literature review should be undertaken within a qualitative research study to focusing specifically on the role of a literature review in a phenomenological study. Along with pointing to the pertinence of orienting to, articulating and delineating the phenomenon within a review of the literature, the paper presents an appropriate approach for this purpose. How a review of the existing literature should locate the focal phenomenon within a given context is illustrated by excerpts from the first author's literature review within a descriptive phenomenological study. Also discussed is the important issue of when the researcher should fully enter the attitude of the phenomenological reduction and how this may influence the study.