Phenomenology As A Qualitative Tool
Phenomenology As A Qualitative Tool
Abstract.
Alfred Schutz with his phenomenology introduced the concept of multiple reality. For
Schutz, the reality in this world is not only in the reality of social life, but also
includes fantasy reality, dream reality, etc. Therefore, the aim of this research is to
analyze and describe how the concepts, characteristics, methods and examples of
the use of the phenomenological approach in Alfred Schutz's perspective qualitative
research methodology. The results of the study explain that the phenomenological
approach pioneered by Edmund Husserl has a watchword: zuruck zu den sachen
selbst (back to things themselves) that a method for explain phenomena in their
purity, where these phenomena are anything that in some way appears in human
consciousness . Whether in the form of something as a result of fiction or in the form
of something real.
1. INTRODUCTION
The term of phenomenology etymologically derived from Greek. From the root
word "phenomenan" or "phenomenon" which literally means "symptoms" or "what
has appeared" so it is real to us. [1] This term was introduced by Johann Heinrickh
Lambert, in 1764. Nevertheless, Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) is more viewed the
father of phenomenology, because of the intensity of his studies in the realm of
philosophy. But, the phenomenology that we know through Husserl is the science of
phenomena. However, Alfred Schutz is better known in building this perspective.
Through Schutz the Husserl's thoughts, which were felt to be abstract, could be
understood and were more "grounded". Schutz was also the first in apply
phenomenology to social science research. For that, in understanding of
phenomenology, the researcher will more refer at Alfred Schutz’s thoughts.
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Max Weber's theory of social action historically become the basis for the birth
of a phenomenological perspective (also symbolic interactionism). Weber calls social
action when all of a person's behavior when and to the extent concerned gives
subjective meaning to his behavior. According to Weber, human action is essentially
meaningful, involving interpretation, thinking and deliberate action. Social action for
him is an intentional, deliberate action for others and for the actor himself, whose
thoughts are actively interpreting each other's behavior, communicating with each
other, and controlling his own behavior according to the purpose of the
communication. So they mutually direct the behavior of the interaction partners in
front of them. So for Weber, society is an active entity consisting of people who think
and perform meaningful social actions. [3] For this reason, understanding of social
action is carried out by examining the subjective meaning that individuals give to
their actions, because humans act on the basis of the meaning they give to these
actions. [4]
Edmund Husserl then criticized existing scientific phenomena stated that
scientific knowledge has actually been separated from everyday experience from
activities in which experience and knowledge are rooted. Thus, he offers
phenomenology. [5] Husserl developed a philosophical system rooted in subjective
openness, a radical approach to science that continues to be criticized.
Phenomenology, for Husserl, is no use to they who are closed-minded. [6] A
phenomenologist is a person who is open to reality with all possible series of
meanings behind it, without any tendency to evaluate or judge. So it can be said that
phenomenology is a study without prejudice.
Husserl's concept of phenomenology also refers to (influenced) by Max
Weber's concept of verstehen. Verstehen is understanding. Reality is to be understood,
not to explain. According to Husserl, phenomenology is an interest in something that
can be understood directly with their senses. Where all knowledge is obtained through
a "phenomenon" sensor. [7]
Weber's thought about social action is interesting, as well with Husserl as a
source of conceptual basis for Schutz in building phenomenology. [8] Strengthening
Weber's opinion about the importance of social action for humans, Schutz argued that
understanding actions, speech and interactions is a prerequisite for anyone's social
existence. The process of meaning begins with a sensing process, an experience
process which continuous. The stream of sense experience, at first, was meaningless.
Meaning arises when connected to previous experiences and through the process of
interacting with other people.
Alfred Schutz teaches that every individual is present in the stream of
consciousness obtained from the process of reflecting on everyday experiences. By
assuming the existence of other people's reality which is mediated by the way of
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thinking and feeling, reflection then passed on to others through their social
relationships. According to Schutz, phenomenology as a method is formulated as a
medium for examining and analyzing the inner life of individuals in the form of
experiences regarding phenomena or appearances as they are, which is commonly
called the stream of consciousness.[9]
Besides Husserl and Alfred Schutz, phenomenology developed, among other, in
the thinking of Morleau-Ponty, Martin Heidegger, etc. But in general, from all schools
of phenomenology, according to Lubis [10], have the same belief in terms of:
The belief that human can understand the true reality of a phenomenon.
The belief that there are things that prevent humans from reaching true
understanding.
Desire breaks through the fog (barrier) by seeing the phenomenon itself as is it.
II. DISCUSSION
BASIC CONCEPTS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH WITH A
PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH
Littlejohn states: "phenomenology makes actual lived experience the basic data
of reality". [14] So in phenomenology, real life experience as the basic data of reality.
So that in the study of phenomenology, what is important is the development of a
method that does not falsify phenomena, but can describe as it appears. For this
purpose the phenomenologist should focus his attention on this phenomenon without
being prejudiced at all. A phenomenologist should abandon all theories,
presuppositions and prejudices in order to understand phenomena as really.
Understanding phenomena as they really is an attempt to return to the goods as they
appear in consciousness.
Unlike the positivistic approach which considers reality is single, Alfred Schutz
with his phenomenology introduced the concept of multiple reality. For Schutz, the
reality in this world is not only in the reality of social life, but also includes fantasy
reality, dream reality, and etc. In this case Schutz modifies the basics of William
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James's understanding of "parts of the universe". We run into various kinds of reality
or "parts of the universe", from the most important physical world, the world of
knowledge, the world of tribal beliefs, the supernatural world, the world of individual
opinion, to the world of madness, and the world of khalayan. But James did not
discuss the social implications of these different orders of social reality, and this is
what Schutz wanted to further develop.
According to Schutz, the world everyday is an intersubjective world shared with
other people with whom we interact. In this world we always share our stories with
our friends, and with others, who also live and interpret them. Therefore our world as
a whole will never be completely personal, even in our consciousness we will always
find evidence of other people's consciousness. This is proof that our unique
biographical situation is not entirely the product of our own actions.
At this point Schutz's theory is very similar to the symbolic interactionist of
George Herbert Mead. But according to Schutz, the intersubjective world consists of
very multiple realities, in which everyday reality which is common sense or taken for
granted, appears as the main reality. Schutz paid great attention to this common sense
reality. This kind of reality that we accept, putting aside any doubt, unless the reality is
at issue. This common sense reality and everyday existence can be called our practical
importance in the social world.
According to Schutz, the essence of common sense exists automatically, namely
in the everyday world. This is an elaboration by Husserl's Labenswelt. The practical
interest in this common sense reality is contrasted by Shutz with the scientific or
theoretical interests of scientists (scientific reality). Scientific theory is an activity that
aims to observe and understand the world systematically. According to Schutz, people
move not based on scientific theory, but by practical interests. This intersubjective
world is shared by other people who experience it.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHENOMENOLOGY RESEARCH
Mulyana said that the phenomenological approach is included in a subjective or
interpretive approach. Maurice Natanson further said that the term phenomenology
can be used as a generic term to refer to all views of social science that place human
consciousness and its subjective meaning as the focus for understanding social action.
As a research method, phenomenology, according to Polkinghorne is: “a
phenomenological study describes the meaning of the lived experiences for several
individuals about a concept or the phenomenon. Phenomenologists explore the
structure of cosciousness in human experiences ”(phenomenological studies explain
the meaning of life experiences for some individuals about a concept or phenomenon.
Phenomenologists explore the structure of consciousness in human experience).
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In Indonesia, there is still a lot of exclusion and different treatment from people with
HIV / AIDS. Thus, the problem of HIV / AIDS is not merely a medical problem but
also a problem of stigma and discrimination in society or the environment. With the
high rate of people living with HIV / AIDS and the stigma and discrimination they
experience, research on the life experiences of people who have contracted the
disease is interesting to study. The aim of this study is to find out and understand the
psychological dynamics in the lives of people with HIV / AIDS.
III. METHOD AND RESEACH
This research is a qualitative research with a phenomenological perspective. The
study of phenomenology is a perspective that focuses on individual experiences and
interpretations of the world. Femonenology is also interpreted as a method of looking
for psychological meanings that shape symptoms through investigation and analysis
of examples of symptoms experienced by participants.
The focus of this research is to understand and describe the psychological dynamics
of life experiences for people living with HIV / AIDS. The psychological dynamics
referred to are the period before HIV / AIDS diagnosis, the period at the time of
diagnosis, the postdiagnosis period, and the time when experiencing discrimination
from the surrounding environment.
Participants in this study were people living with HIV / AIDS who were selected
based on predetermined criteria in accordance with the objectives of the study. These
criteria are:
People with HIV / AIDS,
Are in the category of early adulthood,
Individuals who are willing to be research subjects.
Taking research subjects using the snowball technique. Data collection and analysis
data collection in this study using semi-structured interviews. There are things that are
conveyed to research subjects before the interview process is carried out, namely:
a. Researcher's goals and interests,
b. Confidentiality,
c. Research procedures, and
d. Prepare to start the interview.
The data analysis method used in this research is data exclusion technique. This
technique is a data analysis technique that includes several steps, namely:
Obtain an understanding of the data as a whole,
Prepare a Description of Individual Phenomena (DFI),
Identifying episodes in each DFI,
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authoritarian form. Finally, she decided to use the rest of her life by doing something
that could benefit others. One of them joined the Peduli Kasih Foundation in
Semarang.
Conclusion:
Based on research that has been conducted on these three participants, the researchers
found that each participant has different psychological dynamics in living their life.
The background of childhood care has a big influence on the participants contracting
the HIV / AIDS virus. Some are infected from their husbands and some are infected
because of drugs (use of unsterile needles). The treatment, stigma, and discrimination
inflicted on the three participants from their families and environment were also
different. Some were excluded from the extended family, some were treated
differently down to the smallest things (separation of cutlery), and some were treated
harshly in their workplace. The three participants also differed in interpreting their
life after being convicted of HIV / AIDS. There were participants who thought that
their illness was a trial from God. There are those who also think that the HIV / AIDS
they experienced at that time was a form of punishment for their past actions. Other
participants interpreted their life as a warning that their life would not be long. For
this reason, she never blames other people for the cause of his illness and is more
interested in activities that benefit others.
This is an example of qualitative research with a phenomenological approach, if you
pay attention to the example of the research results above, then substantially you see
the point of view of the research object as a whole or explicitly then the data that has
been obtained from the informant or research object is written as is it in the form of
scientific narratives. If you want to learn more about phenomenological approach, I
recommended you to read my result research with the title tolerance people religions in
Sorong Regency [19]. There, I discuss about phenomenon of people religion.
V. CONCLUSION
The phenomenology that was pioneered by Edmund Husserl has a principle:
zuruck zu den sachen selbst (back to things themselves) which is a method for
explaining phenomena in their purity, where these phenomena are everything that in
some way appears in human consciousness. Whether in the form of something as a
result of fiction or in the form of something real. Phenomenology according to
Creswell seeks to explain the meaning of the life experience of a number of people
about a concept or phenomenon, including their own self-concept or view of life. The
phenomenological approach is included in a subjective or interpretive approach.
The application of phenomenology in the qualitative realm can be briefly
explained as follows:
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Research focus. Two main things are the focus of phenomenological research,
namely: a. Textural description: what is experienced by the research subject
about a phenomenon. b. Structural description: how the subject experiences and
makes sense of his experience.
Determination of informants and research locations. The determination of
informants in phenomenological research depends on the capability of the
person being interviewed to be able to articulate their life experiences.
Meanwhile, the research location can be in a certain place or scattered, with
attention to the individuals who will be used as informants.
Data collection technique. The main data collection technique in
phenomenological studies is in-depth interviews with informants to uncover the
flow of consciousness proposed that is not structured and in a fluid atmosphere.
Data analysis technique
Researchers fully describe the phenomena / experiences experienced by
research subjects.
The researcher then finds statements (interview results) about how people
find topics, details of these statements and the treatment of each statement
has equal value, then these details are developed without repetition.
The statements are then grouped into meaningful units, the researcher
breaks down these units and writes a text description of the experience
accompanied by examples carefully.
The researcher then reflects on his thinking using imaginative variation or
structural description, looks for the overall possible meaning and through
divergent perspectives, considers the frame of reference for the
phenomenon, and constructs how the phenomenon is experienced. .
The researcher then constructs all explanations about the meaning and
essence of the experience.
Researchers reported the results of their research.
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