Nursing research and the philosophy of hermeneutics

Abstract

This paper explores some of the implications of hermeneutic philosophy for nursing research. Using illustrative material from recent research into the quality of life of older people in nursing homes, the paper shows that hermeneutics provides a perspective from which to examine the literature, and which guides both the collection and interpretation of data. The paper may be of interest to all scholars interested in the relationship between hermeneutics and the methods of social and nursing research.