Understanding Phenomenological Qualitative Inquiry in Information Science and Informatics Research

Abstract

Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that focuses on the lived experiences of people in different situations and circumstances. Phenomenology provides a window for conducting qualitative research that explores human experiences by engaging with study participants in detail to collect rich data about phenomena. Phenomenology can be applied in various fields of study, including information science and informatics, to examine the experiences of different individuals and inform theoretical, policy, and practical dimensions. In this chapter, we discuss the definition of phenomenology, its history, the various types of phenomenology, and the justification for adopting phenomenological approaches. We also examine sampling, data collection, and data analysis in phenomenological studies, as well as the limitations of the approach.