An example of how to conduct a phenomenological analysis on a research interview transcript: for MBA students

An example of how to conduct a phenomenological analysis on a research interview transcript: for MBA students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Please use a brief example of an interview transcript on "a gen z's description of his experience of job stress working in the jewelry retail outlet in Hong Kong in 2025" to illustrate how to apply phenomenology for qualitative data analysis? Also briefly mention the specific phenomenological concepts involved in this example."

The reply: "Here is a brief example of an interview transcript excerpt from a Gen Z employee working in a jewelry retail outlet in Hong Kong in 2025, followed by an illustration of how to apply phenomenology for qualitative data analysis and the relevant phenomenological concepts involved.

Example Interview Transcript Excerpt

Interviewer: Can you describe your experience of job stress working at the jewelry retail store?

Gen Z Employee:

"Honestly, it’s quite overwhelming sometimes. The pressure to meet sales targets every day, especially with fewer tourists around, makes me anxious. I feel like I have to put on a happy face even when I’m stressed inside. Plus, the long hours standing and dealing with demanding customers really drains me. I wish there was more flexibility, like hybrid work options, but retail doesn’t allow that. It feels like my well-being is often overlooked, and that adds to the stress."

Applying Phenomenology for Qualitative Data Analysis

Phenomenology aims to understand the lived experience of individuals regarding a particular phenomenon-in this case, job stress experienced by a Gen Z retail worker. The analysis involves several key steps:

• Bracketing (Epoché): The researcher sets aside preconceived notions and biases about job stress and retail work to approach the data with fresh eyes, focusing purely on the participant’s descriptions.

• Phenomenological Reduction: The researcher carefully reads the transcript to identify significant statements that reveal the essence of the stress experience, such as "pressure to meet sales targets," "put on a happy face," and "well-being is overlooked."

• Imaginative Variation: The researcher explores different perspectives and meanings behind these statements to understand the structural aspects of the experience, such as the tension between external demands (sales pressure, customer expectations) and internal feelings (anxiety, exhaustion).

• Synthesis of Meanings and Essences: The researcher integrates these insights to articulate the core essence of job stress for this Gen Z employee, highlighting themes like emotional labor, lack of flexibility, and the impact on mental well-being.

Phenomenological Concepts Illustrated

• Lived Experience: The focus is on how the employee personally experiences and perceives job stress in their daily work life.

• Intentionality: The directedness of consciousness toward the stressors-how the employee’s awareness is focused on sales targets, customer interactions, and workplace conditions.

• Bracketing: Suspending the researcher’s assumptions to see the phenomenon as the participant experiences it.

• Essence: The fundamental nature of the job stress phenomenon as revealed through the participant’s descriptions, such as the conflict between work demands and personal well-being.

• Intersubjectivity: Recognizing that the experience is shared within a social context (e.g., retail environment, societal expectations of Gen Z workers).

This approach allows researchers to gain deep, nuanced insights into the subjective experience of job stress among Gen Z workers in Hong Kong’s retail sector in 2025, capturing both emotional and contextual dimensions beyond surface-level descriptions."

My question 2: "In this example, briefly, what could be the academic and practical values of this research interview finding?"

The reply: "The academic and practical values of the research interview finding on a Gen Z employee’s job stress in a Hong Kong jewelry retail outlet include:

Academic Value:

• It contributes to the growing body of phenomenological research on workplace stress by providing rich, detailed insights into the lived experience of young retail workers, a demographic and context less explored in existing literature14.

• The study deepens understanding of how psychological, social, and organizational factors intersect to shape job stress, especially under contemporary conditions like reduced tourism and rigid work structures14.

• It offers empirical data that can inform theoretical models of workplace stress, emotional labor, and well-being in retail settings, advancing phenomenological frameworks in occupational health research46.

Practical Value:

• The findings highlight specific stressors such as sales pressure, emotional labor, and lack of flexibility, which can guide retail managers and policymakers in designing targeted interventions to improve employee well-being and retention13.

• By revealing the emotional and physical toll on Gen Z workers, the research supports the development of workplace policies that incorporate mental health support, flexible scheduling, and customer service training to reduce stress and burnout13.

• Understanding these stress experiences can foster more empathetic leadership and ethical organizational cultures that prioritize employee well-being, potentially improving productivity and customer service quality35.

In sum, this phenomenological research not only enriches academic knowledge about job stress in retail but also provides actionable insights for creating healthier, more supportive work environments for young employees in Hong Kong’s evolving retail sector."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.