Skip to main content

Designing the Phenomenographic Study and Constituting the Outcome Spaces

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce phenomenography, which is the methodology adopted for the research work presented in this book. We first explain the choice of the phenomenography, the epistemology of phenomenography, and how the findings will be presented. Next, we explain how the phenomenographic study was designed, how the interview questions were developed, and how we identified the participants through purposive sampling strategies. This is followed by a description of the analysis procedures, which include concept mapping and development of themes from the data using online Lino canvas.

…in order to make sense of how people handle problems, situations, the world, we have to understand the way in which they experience the problems, the situations, the world, that they are handling …

Marton and Booth (1997, p. 111)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Åkerlind, G. S. (2005a). Academic growth and development: How do university academics experience it? Higher Education, 50(1), 1–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åkerlind, G. S. (2005b). Learning about phenomenography: Interviewing, data analysis, and the qualitative research paradigm. In J. A. Bowden & P. Green (Eds.), Doing developmental phenomenography (pp. 63–73). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Åkerlind, G. S. (2005c). Phenomenographic methods: A case illustration. In J. A. Bowden & P. Green (Eds.), Doing developmental phenomenography (pp. 103–127). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Åkerlind, G. S. (2005d). Variation and commonality in phenomenographic research methods. Higher Education Research & Development, 24(4), 321–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åkerlind, G. S. (2012). Variation and commonality in phenomenographic research methods. Higher Education Research & Development, 31(1), 115–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Åkerlind, G. S., Bowden, J., & Green, P. (2005). Learning to do phenomenography: A reflective discussion. In J. A. Bowden & P. Green (Eds.), Doing developmental phenomenography (pp. 74–102). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashworth, P., & Lucas, U. (2000). Achieving empathy and engagement: A practical approach to the design, conduct and reporting of phenomenographic research. Studies in Higher Education, 25(3), 295–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, S. (1997). On phenomenography, learning and teaching. Higher Education Research & Development, 16(2), 135–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowden, J. A. (2000). The nature of phenomenographic research. In J. A. Bowden & E. Walsh (Eds.), Phenomenography (pp. 1–18). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden, J. (2005). Reflections on the phenomenographic team research process. In J. A. Bowden & P. Green (Eds.), Doing developmental phenomenography (pp. 11–31). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, G. A. (2008). Naturalistic inquiry and the saturation concept: A research note. Qualitative Research, 8(1), 137–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, C. (1994). Reflections on the experience of the phenomenographic interview. In R. Ballantyne & C. Bruce (Eds.), Proceedings of Phenomenography: Philosophy and practice (pp. 47–56). Brisbane, Queensland: Centre for Applied Environmental and Social Education Research, Queensland University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier-Reed, B. I., Ingerman, A., & Berglund, A. (2009). Reflections on trustworthiness in phenomenographic research: Recognising purpose, context and change in the process of research. Education as Change, 13(2), 339–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cope, C. (2004). Ensuring validity and reliability in phenomenographic research using the analytical framework of a structure of awareness. Qualitative Research Journal, 4(2), 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.) (pp. 1–32). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, S. (2007). Phenomenography: ‘Follow the yellow brick road’!. In S. Lipu, K. Williamson, & A. Lloyd (Eds.), Exploring methods in information literacy research (pp. 87–110). Wagga Wagga, New South Wales: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi, A. (1997). The theory, practice and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research approach. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 28(2), 235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, P. (2005). A rigorous journey into phenomenography: From a naturalistic inquirer standpoint. In J. A. Bowden & P. Green (Eds.), Doing developmental phenomenography (pp. 32–46). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 105–117). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurwitsch, A. (1964). The field of consciousness (p. 202). Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasselgren, B., & Beach, D. (1997). Phenomenography—a “good-for-nothing brother” of phenomenology? Outline of an analysis. Higher Education Research & Development, 16(2), 191–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huemer, W. (2013). Franz Brentano. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Fall 2013 Ed.). Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/brentano/.

  • Husserl, E. (1913/1931). Ideas: General introduction to pure phenomenology (W. R. B. Gibson, Trans.). London: George Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, J., & Holmström, I. (2007). Phenomenographic or phenomenological analysis: Does it matter? Examples from a study on anaesthesiologists’ work. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 2(1), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482620601068105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (1981). Phenomenography: Describing conceptions of the world around us. Instructional Science, 10(2), 177–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (1986/1988). Phenomenography: A research approach to investigating different understandings of reality. Journal of Thought, 21(3), 28–49. Reprinted 1988 in Sherman, R. R., & Webb, W. B. (Eds.), Qualitative research in education: Focus and methods (pp. 141–161). London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (1988). Phenomenography: Exploring different conceptions of reality. In D. M. Fetterman (Ed.), Qualitative approaches to evaluation in education: The silent scientific revolution (pp. 176–205). New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (1994a). Phenomenography. In T. Husén & T. N. Postlethwaite (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of education (pp. 4424–4429). Oxford, England: Elsevier Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (1994b). The idea of phenomenography. In R. Ballantyne & C. Bruce (Eds.), Proceedings of phenomenography: Philosophy and practice (pp. 7–8). Brisbane, Queensland: Centre for Applied Environmental and Social Education Research, Queensland University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F. (2000). The structure of awareness. In J. A. Bowden & E. Walsh (Eds.), Phenomenography (pp. 102–116). Melbourne, Australia: RMIT University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F., & Booth, S. (1997). Learning and awareness. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marton, F., & Dahlgren, L. O. (1976). On non-verbatim learning: III. The outcome space of some basic concepts in economics. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 17, 49–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education. (2013). Education statistics digest. Singapore: Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/education-statistics-digest/files/esd-2013.pdf.

  • Pang, M. F. (2003). Two faces of variation: On continuity in the phenomenographic movement. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 47(2), 145–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (3rd ed.). Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, M. (2000). Using phenomenographic research methodology in the context of research in teaching and learning. In J. A. Bowden & E. Walsh (Eds.), Phenomenography (pp. 19–33). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, B. (2006). Phenomenography as a way to research the understanding by students of technical concepts. Paper presented at Núcleo de Pesquisa em Tecnologia da Arquitetura e Urbanismo (NUTAU): Technological Innovation and Sustainability. Sao Paulo, Brazil. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/1122550/Phenomenography_as_a_way_to_research_the_understanding_by_students_of_technical_concepts.

  • Richardson, J. T. E. (1999). The concepts and methods of phenomenographic research. Review of Educational Research, 69(1), 53–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, J. (2005). How do we justify knowledge produced within interpretative approaches? Organizational Research Methods, 8(1), 41–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, A. (1972). Choice and the social sciences. In L. Embree (Ed.), Life-world and consciousness (pp. 565–596). Evanston: Northwestern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwandt, T. A. (1994). Constructivist, interpretivist approaches to human inquiry. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 118–137). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, L. (1997). Theoretical foundations of phenomenography. Higher Education Research & Development, 16(2), 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, L., & Theman, J. (1983). The relation between categories of description and an interview protocol in a case of phenomenographic research (Research Report No. 1983:02). Gothenburg: University of Gothenburg, Department of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trigwell, K. (2000). A phenomenographic interview on phenomenography. In J. Bowden & E. Walsh (Eds.), phenomenography (pp. 62–82). Melbourne: RMIT University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, C., Partridge, H., & Bruce, C. (2012). Exploring information experiences through phenomenography. Library and Information Research, 36(112), 96–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuh Huann Tan .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tan, Y.H., Tan, S.C. (2020). Designing the Phenomenographic Study and Constituting the Outcome Spaces. In: Conceptions of Knowledge Creation, Knowledge and Knowing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3564-2_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3564-2_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-3563-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-3564-2

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics