Qualitative Research : Phenomenological Research for Me Too Movement:

Running head: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Consider that you have been asked to study this topic using a phenomenological approach. How
would you go about it? In particular, which method(s) of data collection would you use and
why? How would you select and recruit your participants or other sources of data? How would
you analyse the data? (400 words)
Phenomenological research for me too movement:
Me too movement has emerged as a movement against sexual harassment and sexual
assaults of women. The #MeToo phase was initiated in the context of social media in 2006 on
myspace by an activist and sexual harassment survivor. In this context, gaining an understanding
of the perspective of the public on gender and sexuality in the era of #MeToo is a fundamental
part of conducting research. Therefore, a phenomenological approach can be adopted for,
gaining an understanding of the perspective of the public on gender and sexuality.
Selection of the data collection method:
The aim of phenomenological research is to identify the phenomenon perceived by the
actors in the situation1. Therefore, for collecting data, Descriptive phenomenology was
developed by Edmund Husserl would be effective. The rationale behind choosing the descriptive
phenology is that it will provide an increased idea about the gender and sexual relationship from
the perspectives of the individuals as per their understanding and their experience2. Therefore,
descriptive phenomenology or bracketing would be the most suitable methodology that will
enable researchers to write down immediate thoughts, ideas and focusing on the beliefs, values
of the participants.
The data collection:
1 McNarry, Gareth, Jacquelyn Allen-Collinson, and Adam B. Evans. "Reflexivity and bracketing in sociological
phenomenological research: researching the competitive swimming lifeworld." Qualitative Research in Sport,
Exercise and Health 11.1 (2019): 138-151.
2 Turowetz, Jason, Matthew M. Hollander, and Douglas W. Maynard. "Ethnomethodology and social
phenomenology." Handbook of contemporary sociological theory. Springer, Cham, 2016. 387-410.

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In order to collect data, the semi-structured interview on the focus group would be
effective since the general principle of the phenomenological research is to investigate the issues
with minimum structure but maximum depth3. Therefore, the semi-structured interview would
enable researchers to establish an optimum level of rapport and reflect on empathy for sexual
harassment4. The participants would be recruited from two specific areas such as college and
university students of 17 to 24 years who have limited to no idea regarding me too movement
and can provide their perspective, values and beliefs of gender and sexual relationship.
Additionally, limited participants can be recruited from social media so that in-depth knowledge
about #metoo movement and their perspective can be recorded. The participants would be
provided with a detailed method and rationale behind research followed by informed consent.
The interview would be conducted in the community hall after seeking permission from the
governing bodies. Interview notes, tape recordings would be used for collecting ideas
Data analysis:
The collected data would be coded (axial, open and selective) and categorised based on
the similar responses obtained from the transcripts of the interview. The databases can be used
for the larger sample size. After analysing and coding, themes would be designed based on the
similar responses of the participants which further discussed to compare the similarities in beliefs
and values.
Consider that you have been asked to study this topic using a discursive approach. How would
you go about it? In particular, which method(s) of data collection would you use and why? How
would you select and recruit your participants or other sources of data? How would you analyse
the data? (400 words)
3 Willis, Danny G., et al. "Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive phenomenological and
qualitative description research." Western journal of nursing research 38.9 (2016): 1185-1204.
4 León, Felipe, and Dan Zahavi. "Phenomenology of experiential sharing: The contribution of Schutz and
Walther." The Phenomenological Approach to Social Reality. Springer, Cham, 2016. 219-234.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Discursive research for me too movement:
As discussed above #MeToo movement, gender and sexual relationships subjected to
increased debate in the field of psychology and public health research. Therefore, in this context,
this context, gaining an understanding of the perspective of the public on gender and sexuality is
crucial. Therefore, the discursive approach can be adopted for, gaining an understanding of the
perspective of the public on gender and sexuality.
Selection of the data collection method:
The aim of the discursive methodology is to explore the construction of meanings in the
human interactions. The psychoanalytic theory usually combined the discursive approach for
analysing how someone talks about certain issues along with what is unsaid during human
interactions5. Therefore, interpretative repertoires can be used for the discursive approach since it
will enable researchers to analyse how participants are talking about the gender and sexual
relationships along with what is unsaid but reflected in their body language.
Data collection method:
Sexual harassment, gender and sexual relationships are a sensitive topic that requires
additional attention to gain adequate result in the research. Therefore, in order to collect data, the
semi-structured interview on the focus group would be effective since the general principle of the
discursive research is to investigate the texts in the contexts of human interactions and analyse
the manifestations of world participants create themselves6. Therefore, college and university
students of 17 to 24 years would be recruited from gaining an understanding of the perspective,
5 Billig, Michael. "Discursive and rhetorical psychology." The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social
Theory (2017): 1-2.
6 Batel, Susana, and Paula Castro. "Reopening the dialogue between the theory of social representations and
discursive psychology for examining the construction and transformation of meaning in discourse and
communication." British Journal of Social Psychology 57.4 (2018): 732-753.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
values and beliefs of gender and sexual relationship. The participants would be provided with a
detailed method and rationale behind research followed by informed consent. The interview
would be conducted in the community hall after seeking permission from the governing bodies.
Detailed observation during the interview would be incorporated in order to gain an
understanding of their perspective of gender and sexual relationship. Audio recording, video
recording and taking notes would be conducted for analysis of the data collected.
Data analysis:
The collected data would be coded ( axial, open and selective) and categorised based on
the similar responses obtained from the transcripts of the interview. While analysing the data, the
focus would be provided to the language they use and text along with the communication method
in order to interpret the concepts7. Themes would be designed after analysing similar concepts
and categorizing the concept together.
Which of the two approaches (discursive, phenomenological) would you choose for this study
and why? (200 words)
Out of two approaches, a phenomenological approach would be chosen for the study. The
phenomenological research is qualitative research which enables researchers to gather detailed
information through interview and discussion. It is based on two philosophies such as descriptive
phenomenological research designed by Edmund Husserl and interpretive phenomenological
research designed by Martin Heidegger. It enables researchers to focus on the values, beliefs and
ideas of the individual’s based on their lived experience. The gathered data are further used in
the research for developing theories or framework 8. Taking a deep insight into the situation,
sexual harassment survivors subjected to the experiences that altered their perspective on gender
7 Locke, Abigail, and Gemma Yarwood. "Exploring the depths of gender, parenting and ‘work’: critical discursive
psychology and the ‘missing voices’ of involved fatherhood." Community, Work & Family 20.1 (2017): 4-18.
8 Clark, Kevin R., and Beth L. Vealé. "Strategies to enhance data collection and analysis in qualitative
research." Radiologic Technology 89.5 (2018): 482CT-485CT.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
and sexual relationships. Moreover, gender and sexual relationships are sensitive topics and
perception is solely based on their lived experience9. The perception of each individual would be
different. Therefore, phenomenological approach, specifically descriptive phenomenological
research would enable researchers to obtain original ideas, beliefs of the participants and draw a
comparison between dynamic natures of the perception based on the lived experience, unlike
discursive approach which is focused on the language and text10. Therefore, for gaining the
understanding of gender and sexual relationships from their perspective, the phenomenological
approach would be effective.
Advantages and disadvantages of your chosen methodological approach (discursive or
phenomenological) compared to quantitative methods (e.g. surveys, experiments)? (300 words)
The advantage of the phenomenological approach is that it enables researchers to capture
original ideas, beliefs and values of the participants incorporated within the research for the
development of theories, unlike the survey and experiments. The survey and experiments are
only based on the observations and object data that failed to consider human emotions and
perception, unlike phenomenological research11. Therefore, unlike survey and experimental
studies, phenomenological research can be effective for developing new theories that can guide
further research. Moreover, another advantage of phenomenological is that it enables researchers
to incorporate raw or original data, unlike survey and experiments12. In case of an experimental
study, the researchers can alter the data to give the proper structure to the data obtained.
9 Greenberg, Pierce. "Strengthening sociological research through public records requests." Social Currents 3.2
(2016): 110-117.
10 Cypress, Brigitte S. "Rigor or reliability and validity in qualitative research: Perspectives, strategies,
reconceptualization, and recommendations." Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing 36.4 (2017): 253-263.
11 Whipp, Richard. "Qualitative Methods." Researching the World of Work: Strategies and Methods in Studying
Industrial Relations (2018): 51.
12 Bryman, Alan. "Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their integration." Mixing methods:
Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge, 2017. 57-78.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Therefore, unlike phenomenological research, survey and experimental studies have information
biases due to the manipulation of statistical data.
Considering the disadvantages, phenomenological research has no statistical significance
and time consuming with large sample size unlike survey and experimental study. In case of the
survey and experimental studies, statistical interpretations are used for analysing the data
collected. Therefore, it is less time consuming compared to phenomenological research and
requires less human resources for interpreting the data and collecting the data13. The second
disadvantage of phenomenological research is that it has personal biases unlike survey and
experiments as it is based on the personal values and beliefs of the individuals or participants of
the research. In case of survey and experiments, it can be said that the data collections are based
on the scientific method which does not consider the human emotions. Therefore, unlike survey
and experiments, it has low credibility when it is used for policymaking.
13 Eyisi, Daniel. "The Usefulness of Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches and Methods in Researching Problem-
Solving Ability in Science Education Curriculum." Journal of Education and Practice 7.15 (2016): 91-100.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
References:
1. McNarry, Gareth, Jacquelyn Allen-Collinson, and Adam B. Evans. "Reflexivity and
bracketing in sociological phenomenological research: researching the competitive
swimming lifeworld." Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health 11.1 (2019):
138-151.
2. Turowetz, Jason, Matthew M. Hollander, and Douglas W. Maynard. "Ethnomethodology
and social phenomenology." Handbook of contemporary sociological theory. Springer,
Cham, 2016. 387-410.
3. León, Felipe, and Dan Zahavi. "Phenomenology of experiential sharing: The contribution
of Schutz and Walther." The Phenomenological Approach to Social Reality. Springer,
Cham, 2016. 219-234.
4. Willis, Danny G., et al. "Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive
phenomenological and qualitative description research." Western journal of nursing
research 38.9 (2016): 1185-1204.
5. Billig, Michael. "Discursive and rhetorical psychology." The Wiley‐Blackwell
Encyclopedia of Social Theory (2017): 1-2.
6. Batel, Susana, and Paula Castro. "Reopening the dialogue between the theory of social
representations and discursive psychology for examining the construction and
transformation of meaning in discourse and communication." British Journal of Social
Psychology 57.4 (2018): 732-753.
7. Locke, Abigail, and Gemma Yarwood. "Exploring the depths of gender, parenting and
‘work’: critical discursive psychology and the ‘missing voices’ of involved
fatherhood." Community, Work & Family 20.1 (2017): 4-18.

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QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
8. Clark, Kevin R., and Beth L. Vealé. "Strategies to enhance data collection and analysis in
qualitative research." Radiologic Technology 89.5 (2018): 482CT-485CT.
9. Cypress, Brigitte S. "Rigor or reliability and validity in qualitative research: Perspectives,
strategies, reconceptualization, and recommendations." Dimensions of Critical Care
Nursing 36.4 (2017): 253-263.
10. Greenberg, Pierce. "Strengthening sociological research through public records
requests." Social Currents 3.2 (2016): 110-117.
11. Whipp, Richard. "Qualitative Methods." Researching the World of Work: Strategies and
Methods in Studying Industrial Relations (2018): 51.
12. Bryman, Alan. "Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their
integration." Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge, 2017.
57-78.
13. Eyisi, Daniel. "The Usefulness of Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches and Methods
in Researching Problem-Solving Ability in Science Education Curriculum." Journal of
Education and Practice 7.15 (2016): 91-100.