understanding the lifeworld of individuals
Research Methodology
In my research concerning the experiences of living with long-term conditions as well as my research concerning the design and development of digital health technologies, I’ve been inspired by Wright and McCarthy’s experience-centred approach (2010). Rather than using approaches grounded in rational instrumental and reductionist theories and focusing on functional aspects of a person with long-term condition, I apply approaches supported by phenomenological and pragmatic philosophies. These methodologies allow me to examine how people make sense of their lived experience or their lived experience of using any intervention they receive for their conditions. Experiential practical, situated “knowing” based in personal and shared experiences can explain lived experiences more holistically.
Central to my theoretical perspective is what Mikhail Bakhtin called “dialogism” and “creative understanding”, where the gap between different views is recognised and as a result new meanings and opportunities emerge. A dialogical approach to understanding requires empathy to try to understand the other as a unique individual, or centre of value, both are expert in their own experiences but capable of learning from each other (Nasr, et al. 2016). Likewise, in narrative research meanings are constructed contextually and interactionally (Mishler 1986). Through narrative people revise their experiences of illness, change their values and reinterpret the meaning of life based on their current situations (Mishler 2006), which explains the strategies they use to face the demands of living with a long-term condition.
When people live through a long-term condition they have been found to frequently appraise the situations, shift perspectives, develop new perceptions of the condition and reinterpret the meaning of life. This change process is called transformative learning in the adult learning education (Dubouloz, et al. 2010) and response shift in health-related quality of life literature (Sprangers & Schwartz, 1999, Schwartz & Sprangers, 2009). This phenomenon that depicts change of perspective over time and adds complexity to the evaluation of the impact of health interventions can be examined using a narrative approach.