An example of how to conduct a phenomenological analysis on a research interview transcript: for Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "Please use a brief example of an interview transcript on "an unhealthy elderly (in his 70s) male citizen's description of his 3 years' experience of rough sleeping in Sham Shui Po, 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 an unhealthy elderly male (in his 70s) citizen describing his 3 years' experience of rough sleeping in Sham Shui Po, 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 tell me about your experience of living on the streets in Sham Shui Po over the past three years?
Participant:
"It's been very hard. My body aches all the time, especially my knees and chest. Sometimes I can't sleep because of the noise and the cold. I try to find a quiet corner near the Jade Market, but there are always people passing by, and I feel unsafe. The shelters are full or too far, and I don't want to go there because I feel like I lose my dignity. I miss having a home, but now I just survive day by day. The hunger, the loneliness, and the sickness make me feel invisible to the world."
Applying Phenomenology for Qualitative Data Analysis
Phenomenology focuses on understanding the lived experience of the participant from their own perspective, without preconceived notions. The goal is to describe the essence of the phenomenon-in this case, rough sleeping-through the participant's subjective experience.
Steps to apply phenomenological analysis:
Bracketing: The researcher sets aside their own biases and assumptions about homelessness to approach the data with fresh eyes.
Reading and re-reading: The transcript is read multiple times to immerse in the participant's experience.
Extracting significant statements: Key phrases such as "body aches," "can't sleep," "feel unsafe," "lose my dignity," and "feel invisible" are identified as meaningful units.
Formulating meanings: These statements are interpreted to understand what they reveal about the experience, e.g., physical suffering, insecurity, loss of identity, social invisibility.
Clustering themes: The meanings are grouped into themes such as physical hardship, lack of safety, social isolation, and loss of dignity.
Developing an exhaustive description: A rich narrative is constructed that captures the essence of rough sleeping as experienced by the elderly man.
Validation: The researcher may return to the participant for member checking to ensure the interpretation resonates with their experience.
Specific Phenomenological Concepts Illustrated
Lived Body (Leib): The participant’s description of bodily pain and discomfort ("body aches," "can't sleep") reflects the embodied experience of homelessness.
Lived Space (Spatiality): The sense of insecurity and searching for a "quiet corner" shows how space is experienced as unsafe and hostile.
Lived Time (Temporality): The focus on "day by day" survival highlights the altered experience of time under homelessness.
Lived Human Relation (Relationality): Feelings of loneliness and invisibility illustrate the disruption of social connections.
Essence: Through clustering themes, the core essence of the rough sleeping experience emerges as a combination of physical suffering, insecurity, social isolation, and loss of dignity.
This approach aligns with phenomenological studies on homelessness that seek to reveal the meaning of the experience from the perspective of those living it, enabling deeper understanding beyond statistics or external observations1248."
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 the elderly homeless man's lived experience of rough sleeping in Sham Shui Po are as follows:
Academic Value
Deepening understanding of lived experience: The phenomenological approach provides rich, first-person insight into the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of homelessness among elderly individuals, an under-researched demographic124.
Expanding theoretical knowledge: By revealing themes such as bodily suffering, insecurity, social invisibility, and loss of dignity, the study contributes to phenomenological literature on homelessness and aging, enriching concepts like lived body and lived space24.
Challenging stereotypes and paradigms: The authentic voices of homeless elderly challenge common societal assumptions and stereotypes, encouraging more nuanced academic discourse about homelessness2.
Informing future research: The findings highlight areas for further investigation, such as the intersection of health decline and homelessness in aging populations, and the role of dignity and safety in shelter use14.
Practical Value
Informing policy and service design: Understanding the elderly homeless person’s experience of physical pain, insecurity, and dignity loss can guide policymakers and service providers to create more accessible, respectful, and targeted interventions, such as age-appropriate shelters or outreach programs14.
Enhancing healthcare and social support: Insights into chronic health issues and social isolation can improve healthcare delivery and social services tailored to elderly rough sleepers, addressing both physical and psychosocial needs7.
Promoting dignity and safety: Recognizing the importance of dignity and safety in the participant’s narrative can lead to practical changes in shelter environments and outreach strategies that respect autonomy and reduce barriers to use14.
Supporting advocacy and awareness: The vivid personal account can be used to raise public awareness and advocate for more compassionate approaches to elderly homelessness, influencing community attitudes and resource allocation24.
In summary, this phenomenological research provides both scholarly contributions to the understanding of homelessness and actionable insights to improve the lives of elderly rough sleepers in Hong Kong and similar urban contexts14."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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