Phenomenologically-informed inquiry in physical rehabilitation: how to do documentation and interpretation of qualitative data (Papadimitriou) 2012
In this didactic paper I offer an example of how we can use a phenomenologically-informed sociological approach to analyze ethnographic and interview data from a clinical encounter. I show that the value of this approach is not that we will reach a more accurate interpretation of qualitative data, but that it opens up multiple ways of seeing and interpreting thus challenging us to re-think our scientific and lay assumptions. By explicating the interpretation process, I hope to increase awareness of how theoretical and practice assumptions may hinder deep, nuanced, and new understandings of clinical encounters. In doing so, physiotherapists and other health professionals can see the value of seeing clinical encounters beyond clinical models and ask questions of how they understand their work environments and clients.
Key words: phenomenology, qualitative methods, spinal cord injury, sociology, rehabilitation professionals
Key words: phenomenology, qualitative methods, spinal cord injury, sociology, rehabilitation professionals