These structures provide the researcher with an understanding of the world that
contributes towards the development of theory. On the question of theory Morse (1994)
suggests that phenomenologists do not label themselves as theorists in the strictest
sense, rather linkages from the data to theory are based on reflections of theoretical
literature. Recontextualisation comes from writing and rewriting, which as a practice
sensitises the researcher and provides new insights. This increases the level of
abstraction by moving from the “particular” sphere to a “universal” sphere where
themes are readily comprehensible to the humans which they seek to describe.
However, there are a number of misconceptions and ad hoc interpretations of
phenomenology to be found in the literature. First, the philosophy that underpins
phenomenology is often misused to refer to the qualitative paradigm as a whole. This
is not the case. Phenomenologists seek guidance from existential philosophers in the
interpretation of their data. Through careful study of individuals they hope to discover
the deeper meaning of the “lived” experience in terms of the individual’s relationship
with time, space and personal history (Stern, 1994). The collection and analysis of data
using this methodology is also specifically prescribed. Phenomenology demands that
intense reflection is an integral part of the process, but above all, the primacy of the
subjective experience is felt to be crucial. Analysis is conducted by scrutinising the text