What is it and why does it matter to environmental

researches?

PhenomenologicalData Collection:

Kate HunterEDRD*6000

March 7 2017

What is it?01

02Why does it matter?

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Basics

According to Liamputtong (2013) phenomenology is one of the main six methodological frameworks for qualitative research. Phenomenology looks at how and what an individual thinks about their experience of a particular phenomenon. It is an ontological branch of inquiry. That is, it researches the nature being and direct experience.

Phenomenological data is collected to explain why people act the way they do (Liamputtong, 2013). Through this, we can understand not only how people act in nature, but why they act that way. It is only once we understand behaviours, motivations, and values that researchers, organizations or policy makers can attempt to change peoples actions that negatively impact the environment.

Underlying PurposeThe first step towards environmental awareness is for one to simply be aware of their relationship to nature. This point made by Lack (2014) suggests that by introducing people to this activity of “being aware” of this relationship between them and their surroundings is to begin the road of becoming environmentally aware. There is no right way to “dwell” or to “be” (Godfrey-Smith, 1996). But, being aware of the importance of how you interact with with the environment allows you to check your ego. It opens up a new understanding of reality and our place in the world as a species of animals who is a part of the world (Lack, 2014). We have a right to dwell on the world, and protect the resources we need to live, as does every other species.

ResearchMethod

In modern day, because civilization is so ubiquitous (for better or for worse), as academics and policy makers we must be able to view the world not as just black and white (people vs nature), but understand nature as a spatiocultural environment. In this position of advocacy, as environmentalists we must “generate awareness of our relationship with the world around us.” (Lack, 2014). To deny this relationship, to only see nature as a pure entity unto itself, is to not imbed oneself in the reality of our time. Our relationship with nature is important, and understanding how people experience this relationship is critical to how can approach solutions (Jensen, 2006).

Each person experiences reality in their own way. Even in one setting, there could be many ways the environment is perceived. Through this method we can more easily understand this diversity of realities. This method is strongly associated with the concept of constructivism.

From here, we can see why this method would benefit many different theses. If a conceptual framework guides someone towards a phenomenological method, their aim must involve trying to understand how the existence of different realities will impact their understanding of a phenomenon.

ResearchMethodContinued

Why this methodology instead of others?• to understand the values and the inner logic of the person being

interviewed• it helps the subject become cognizant of their relationship with the

environment or phenomena in question• it helps the researcher gain a holistic understanding of the sociocultural

context that influence the values that inform behaviour and actions• taking a phenomenological approach allows the researcher to present a

more seamless view of the subject’s experience• phenomenology is a more direct like to the raw and authentic way a person

perceives their interaction with places and events• it focuses on how a person experiences a phenomenon, and does not

focus so much on what it is that they experience.

Data Collection

Like most qualitative research, you will want to ask open-ended questions that are non-directive. While you have to limit your input into how they describe, and what they describe in their response, you will have to direct them to provide you with as “thick” of a description as they can.

• thoughts• feelings• images• sensations• memories(Waters, 2016)

What to Capture:• stream of consciousness• interview• a written or oral account• mental maps• aesthetic interpretations

• narrative• poem• drawing

• follow-up questions

How to collect it?

Data Analysis There are many ways to “be” in the world. Our social and

cultural conditions influence the way we involve ourselves with the environment (Lack, 2014). Some illustrative examples:• walking in the woods you may encounter a hunter and

you may encounter a birdwatcher• analyzing a city map you may have a hydrologist or a

planner• listening to the wind in the trees you may have a person

who is inspired, or you may have a person who wishes to find distraction from stress they carry

Nature will disclose parts of itself to each person based on their values and what they need from their surroundings (James, 2009). We can use phenomenological data to understand how

As David Seamon and Robert Mugerauer (1985) describe it, looking at phenomenological data is more about discovering wholes in the research than about discovering holes. It is to gain a more holistic view of the complexity that is human experience. You will be looking for data that is significant to behaviour, landscape, meaning, cultural symbols, values, etc. We are not looking only for the experience itself, but the contextual influences that interact and influence the experience.

“Environmental phenomenology is not just a new approach to the old issues. It is a way into a host of new issues as well.”(James, 2009)

Many practitioners in the environmental sector make policy decisions, or create initiatives without obtaining a comprehensive understanding the problem at hand. It is not enough to determine attitudes or actions of people in the environment being studied. Social norms, cultural context, and value systems are all factors that must be understood (Heberlein, 2012). Also, as professionals, we must process that educating the public is not enough. There is a disconnect between knowledge and behaviour. We do not want to put effort into managing a more balanced relationship between people and the environment if the changes are going to be short-lived. By collecting phenomenological data, we can create solutions that are “consistent with dominant public attitudes and values.” (Heberlein, 2012).

How to Apply Phenomenology

Landscape Architects• post-occupancy review of

implemented designs• designing spaces that align with the

way locals interact with the environment

Planners and Municipalities• gaining an understanding of

environmental ethics• understanding sense of place

Environmentalists• dissecting environmental behaviour• explaining how values and attitudes

impact behaviour

Other Professions Using This Method• sociology• geography• environmental psychology• religion

“…a major point of union between theory and practice is in design, through which sensitive seeing and building grounded in dwelling would strengthen the world ecologically, humanly, and spiritually.”(Seamom & Mugerauer, 1985)

TheLimitations of ExperienceWhen someone sees their surroundings the cannot possibly experience the entire array of the place from their one particular view (James, 2009). This is true of physical and psychological understanding of place. While it is limiting factor to what we can perceive, this is not exactly a limitation. This is part of being human, just as we cannot “experience morning, afternoon, and evening all at once.” (James, 2009).

Maintaining a high standard of rigour is critical throughout the entire process of collecting and analyzing phenomenological data. As with any research, simply the act of being studied can influence the behaviour of the subject (Seamon & Mugerauer, 1985). With this type of data staying as true to the subject’s interpretation of their experience is crucial. Capturing the authenticity of the experience is a major factor in what differentiates this from other methods.

While authenticity is vital to phenomenological data collection and representation, there is a challenge in capturing authentic reports. Trust is a huge issue. The researcher must immerse themselves in the local environmental. It also requires that you, the researcher, are familiar with the location that is being studied (Seamon & Mugerauer, 1985). This level of relationship building is similar to the collection of data for ethnographic research, if you are familiar with such explorations.

In PracticeThe Bridge to Dalmatia: A Search for the Meaning of Place

Francis Violich is an urban planner in Berkley, California and a professor emeritus for Berkley. For this project he studies how immigrants experience their new cities. He focuses on bridges between: the old and new home; generations; sense of place; and identity. (Markovich, 1998), (Francis, 1998)

Urban Reading

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The Project

Fieldwork and Data CollectionHistorical Research

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The researcher familiarized himself with the community prior to contending any fieldwork. This included demographically, historically, culturally investigating the community.

“…a technique which includes walking a city or town in order to get a feel for its natural and built environments.” (Markovich, 1998)

MappingThe people involved in the study completed mental mapping exercises. These are memory-based maps created by the participant so that their representations of the city can be analyzed.

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InterviewsFollowing the mapping exercise, Violich used connected with members of the immigrant community and did a type of key informant interview.

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AnalyzeThe data was analyzed and the data was also compared between the three countries where this information was collected.

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InformOne of the most significant benefits of phenomenological data collection is that it is so directly applicable to professional practice. Violich used this information to inform urban planning strategies for these cities.

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References

Questions

Heberlein, T. (2012). Navigating Environmental Attitudes. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

James, S. (2009). The presence of nature: a study of phenomenology and environmental philosophy. New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan.

Jensen, D. (2006). Endgame: the problem of civilization. New York: Seven Stories Press.

Lack, A. (2014). Martin Heidegger on technology, ecology, and the arts. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Liamputtong, P. (2013). Qualitative Research Methods. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Markovich, S. (1998). Book review: the bridge to Dalmatia. Urban History Review 27(1), 60.

Seamon, D. & Mugerauer, R. (1985). Dwelling, place and environment: towards a phenomenology of person and world. Hingham: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

Violich, F. (1998). The Bridge to Dalmatia: A Search for the Meaning of Place. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Waters, J. (2016). Phenomenological Research Guidelines. Capilano University: Psychology. Available online at: https://www.capilanou.ca/psychology/student-resources/research-guidelines/Phenomenological-Research-Guidelines/

Can you think of a few areas of research (not necessarily environmental) where it would be insightful to obtain an accurate description of the experiential interaction between a person and their surroundings?

What are some other limitations you might encounter when conducting a phenomenological investigation?

I’ve highlighted environmental management career paths, but what are some other professions and disciplines that you could benefit from the application of this insight?

Where there any main points that confused you about this method? If you include this in our comments section I can help clarify.