Reviews for Phenomenology and the science of behaviour

The average rating for Phenomenology and the science of behaviour based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-12-04 00:00:00 David Espinal It could just be that I approach phenomenology far too philosophically to appreciate what Moustakas wants to do in this book. I guess he wants to provide psychologists with a hands-on guide to interpreting qualitative data (interviews, mostly) in a relatively rigorous (because systematic) way. He certainly does that. He even includes step-by-step instructions in the systematic interpretation of interview transcripts, according to his own favored method of analysis. Basically, you try to extract themes (expressible in phrases or sentences) common to all of the interviews, or within one interview. Then you relate those themes to each other via conceptual links. My disappointment with this book hinges on the author's treatment of Husserl and his attempt to relate his phenomenological qualitative methodology to Husserl's phenomenology. I certainly see the influence of Husserl on the methodology of qualitative data analysis recommended. The author tries to persuade us that some form of phenomenology, derived from Husserlian philosophy, is a powerful tool for clarifying one's basic methodological conceptions in any kind of disciplined, qualitative inquiry (what they call "human science" in Germany). I am persuaded; I wouldn't really have bought the expensive, hard-to-find book if I weren't. I was disappointed, though, by the author's discussions of the phenomenological reduction. I knew going into this that the reduction involves (at least) identifying one's theoretical or attitudinal presuppositions, including methodology as well as facticity (ingrained dispositions and beliefs). I knew that a phenomenologist also attempts to relate the intentional acts characteristic of those reduced presuppositions amongst themselves, so that coherent attitudes made up of dispositions toward these types of intentions may be named for convenience, and consciously avoided if necessary to the research. The biggest mystery of Husserlian phenomenology is: how do I do that? I don't find any deep answers here. Of course, as the author recommends, I ought to figure it out for myself. Indeed.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-01-19 00:00:00 Michael Antoine Made we want to learn more about phenomenology.