A study note on phenomenology in social science research: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A study note on phenomenology in social science research: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What is phenomenology all about with reference to social science research?"

The reply: "Phenomenology in social science research is a philosophical and methodological approach focused on understanding human experiences from the perspective of those who live them. It seeks to explore how individuals perceive, interpret, and make sense of their world without imposing preconceived notions or assumptions about reality12.

Core Aspects of Phenomenology in Social Science Research

• Subjectivity and Lived Experience: Phenomenology emphasizes the subjective experience of individuals, aiming to capture the essence of how people experience events, objects, or social phenomena. It prioritizes understanding the "lived experience" — the immediate, personal perception and feelings associated with an event or situation26.

• Intentionality: This concept highlights that consciousness is always directed toward something; people are always conscious of something, whether an object, person, or idea. This means experience is always about something meaningful to the individual26.

• Bracketing (Epoché): Researchers suspend their own biases, assumptions, and judgments to focus purely on the participant's perspective. This methodological step helps reveal the essential structures of experience without contamination from the researcher's preconceptions26.

• Phenomenological Reduction: Through systematic analysis, researchers seek to uncover the fundamental features of conscious experience, stripping away layers of interpretation to get to the core meaning of the phenomena6.

Relevance and Application in Social Science Research

Phenomenology is particularly valuable for gaining deep insights into complex social phenomena by exploring how individuals and groups experience social reality. It helps researchers understand:

• How social reality is constructed through shared meanings and interpretations within a culture or society36.

• The lived experiences of power dynamics, social inequality, and marginalization, revealing how these are perceived and negotiated by individuals67.

• The role of cultural and social norms in shaping behavior and experience, highlighting the nuanced ways people engage with these norms daily6.

Methodological Influence

Phenomenology has significantly influenced qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and participant observation. These methods allow researchers to collect rich, detailed data on subjective experiences, which are then analyzed to identify common themes and insights15.

Summary Table of Phenomenology in Social Science Research

Aspect	Description
Focus	Subjective lived experiences and perceptions
Key Concepts	Intentionality, bracketing, phenomenological reduction
Research Goal	Understand how individuals experience and interpret their social world
Methodological Techniques	In-depth interviews, ethnography, participant observation, thematic analysis
Contributions to Social Science	Insights into social construction of reality, power dynamics, cultural norms, identity, and social justice

 

In essence, phenomenology in social science research is about uncovering the meanings behind human experiences to better understand social phenomena from the inside out, rather than imposing external explanations or objective measurements1267."

My question 2: "What is the phenomenology view on ontology, epistemology and axiology with reference to dissertation project works in business management and housing studies?"

The reply: "Phenomenology’s view on ontology, epistemology, and axiology, especially in dissertation projects within business management and housing studies, can be understood as follows:

Ontology (Nature of Reality)

Phenomenology adopts a relativist ontology, which holds that reality is not a single, fixed entity but multiple and subjective, shaped by individuals' lived experiences and perceptions. Reality is seen as socially constructed and fluid, varying according to personal and collective interpretations rather than existing independently of human consciousness. In business management and housing studies, this means recognizing that concepts like organizational culture, market dynamics, or housing needs are experienced differently by different stakeholders, and these realities coexist rather than being objectively fixed123.

Epistemology (Nature of Knowledge)

Phenomenology’s epistemology is interpretivist and subjective, emphasizing knowledge as something constructed through the interaction between the researcher and participants. Knowledge is gained by deeply understanding participants’ lived experiences and meanings they assign to phenomena. This contrasts with positivist views that seek objective, measurable facts. In dissertation work, this implies using qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews or narrative analysis to capture rich, detailed accounts of how individuals experience business processes or housing conditions, rather than relying on quantitative metrics alone136.

Axiology (Role of Values)

Phenomenology acknowledges that research is inherently value-laden. Researchers recognize their own values and biases influence the research process and outcomes. Transparency about these values is important, as is respecting the participants’ perspectives. In business management and housing studies, this means the researcher’s values regarding issues like equity, sustainability, or social justice shape the focus and interpretation of findings. The goal is not to eliminate values but to understand how they influence both the research and participants’ experiences345

Summary in Context of Dissertation Projects

Philosophical Aspect	Phenomenological View	Application in Business Management & Housing Studies Dissertations
Ontology	Reality is multiple, subjective, socially constructed	Understanding diverse stakeholder perspectives on organizational culture, market behavior, or housing experiences
Epistemology	Knowledge is co-constructed through lived experience and interpretation	Using qualitative methods to explore meanings behind business decisions or housing needs
Axiology	Research is value-laden; researcher's and participants' values matter	Reflecting on ethical considerations, social justice, and researcher positionality in interpreting data

 

In sum, phenomenology in these fields guides researchers to explore the meaning and essence of experiences related to business or housing phenomena, emphasizing subjectivity, context, and values rather than seeking universal, objective truths123."

My question 3: "Could you clarify the topic a bit more with the example of "the research objective of learning the experience of residential quality of Hong Kong citizens in their 80s living in the public housing estate in Tsuen Wan in 2025"?"

The reply: "Using the example of the research objective: "learning the experience of residential quality of Hong Kong citizens in their 80s living in the public housing estate in Tsuen Wan in 2025," here is how phenomenology clarifies the topic in a dissertation project:

Phenomenology and the Research Objective

• Focus on Lived Experience
  The core of phenomenology is to explore and describe the lived experience of the participants—in this case, elderly Hong Kong residents in their 80s living in Tsuen Wan public housing. The research aims to understand how these individuals personally perceive and make sense of their residential quality, including physical, social, and emotional dimensions of their housing environment145

• Subjective Meaning
  Instead of measuring residential quality through objective indicators (e.g., size, facilities), the study seeks to capture the subjective meanings and feelings these elderly residents associate with their living conditions. This could include their sense of comfort, security, community, or challenges they face daily135

• Data Collection Method
  Phenomenological research would typically use in-depth, unstructured or semi-structured interviews to allow participants to narrate their experiences in their own words. The researcher would encourage detailed descriptions of how the residents experience their housing, what matters most to them, and how it affects their quality of life15

• Bracketing (Epoche)
  The researcher would practice bracketing by setting aside their own assumptions about what "residential quality" means, focusing instead on the participants’ perspectives to reveal the essence of their experience without bias15

• Analysis and Essence
  Through phenomenological reduction, the researcher analyzes interview transcripts to identify common themes or essences that characterize the experience of residential quality for this group. For example, themes might include feelings of safety, social connectedness, or barriers related to aging and housing design135

Application in Business Management and Housing Studies

• In housing studies, this approach helps uncover how elderly residents interpret their housing quality beyond physical attributes, informing policies or designs that better meet their needs.

• In business management, especially in public housing management or social service provision, understanding these lived experiences can guide more empathetic, resident-centered management strategies.

Summary

Phenomenological Aspect	Application to the Research Objective
Lived Experience	Explore how elderly residents personally experience residential quality in Tsuen Wan public housing
Subjectivity	Focus on individual meanings and feelings about their living environment rather than objective measures
Data Collection	Use in-depth interviews to gather rich, detailed narratives from participants
Bracketing	Researcher suspends own biases to understand participants' perspectives authentically
Analysis	Identify core themes that capture the essence of residential quality experience for elderly residents

 

This phenomenological approach provides a deep, nuanced understanding of what residential quality means to elderly Hong Kong citizens, which can inform housing policy, design, and management tailored to their lived realities1345"

My question 4: "Please briefly clarify these key concepts mentioned: Intentionality, bracketing, phenomenological reduction."

The reply: "Here is a brief clarification of the key phenomenological concepts:

Intentionality

Intentionality refers to the fundamental characteristic of consciousness that it is always about or directed toward something. This means every act of consciousness (such as perceiving, imagining, remembering) is always consciousness of an object, event, or state of affairs. It highlights that experience is always related to something meaningful, shaping how we understand the world1235.

Bracketing (Epoche)

Bracketing is the methodological process in phenomenological research where the researcher consciously sets aside or suspends their own preconceptions, biases, and assumptions about the phenomenon being studied. This allows the researcher to approach the participants’ experiences with an open mind, focusing purely on how the phenomena appear to the participants themselves without external interpretation16.

Phenomenological Reduction

Phenomenological reduction is the analytical step following bracketing, where the researcher systematically examines the descriptions of experience to uncover the essential structures or core meanings of the phenomenon. It involves peeling away layers of interpretation to reveal the pure essence of the lived experience as it is presented to consciousness16.

These concepts together enable phenomenological research to deeply explore and describe how individuals experience and make sense of their world."

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