Muddying the water or swimming dowstream? A critical analysis of literature reviewing in a phenomenological study through an exploration of lifeworld, reflexivity and role of the researcher.

Authors: Fry, J., Scammell, J. and Barker, S.

Journal: The Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology

Volume: 17

Issue: !

Pages: 1-12

Publisher: University of Johannesburg, Edith Cowan University (Australia), NISC (Pty) Ltd.

ISSN: 2079-7222

DOI: 10.1080/20797222.2017.1293355

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 orientating 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 excerps 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.

Source: Manual