Reflections on the Use of a Phenomenological Method

Abstract

This paper offers reflections on the use of a phenomenological method in the exploration of the experience of taking part in extreme sport. A phenomenological method was chosen in an attempt to gain some understanding of the meaning and significance of an embodied experience. The paper presents a brief account of the process and outcome of the research. This is followed by a discussion of the researcher's experience of conducting phenomenological research and the kind of knowledge that was produced as a result. Reflections revolve around the openness of the method and its ability to reveal a phenomenon, the degree to which it is able to capture uniqueness and specificity, problems around translation and language, recruitment of participants, and, finally, issues around the relationship between description and interpretation. The paper concludes with some recommendations for phenomenological research practice.