Hermeneutical Phenomenology

A research method used in qualitative research in the fields of education and other human
sciences. It arose out of and remains closely tied to phenomenological philosophy, a strand of
continent philosophy. Phenomenology becomes hermeneutical when its method is taken to be
interpretive (rather than purely descriptive as a transcendental phenomenology) (Berroya 2017).

• Phenomenology
- Refers to a person’s perception of the meaning of an event, as opposed to the event as
exist externally to (outside of) that person (Alfornon 2019).

• Hermeneutics
- In the study of literary texts, scholars frequently adhere to a set of rules or a specific
system on which to base their interpretation (Alfornon 2019).

- The interpretation of nonliterary texts, such as art or philosophy, may also require
adherence to such a method (Alfornon 2019).
- The specific rules used to interpret and understand a text are known collectively as
hermeneutics (Alfornon 2019).
• Hermeneutic Analysis
- A name for various methods of analysis, which are based on interpreting.
- The strategy forms an opposite to those research strategies which stress objectivity
and independence of interpretations in the formations in formation of knowledge (Alfornon
2019).
• Hermeneutic Research
- Enables you to make interpretations and gain an in-depth understanding of the
researched phenomenon (Berroya 2017).
- Hermeneutic research emphasizes subjective interpretations in the research of
meanings of texts, art, culture, social phenomena and thinking (Alfornon 2019).

• Phenomenological Analysis
- Based on discussions and reflections of direct sense perception and experiences of the
researched phenomenon (Berroya 2017).
- A starting point of the strategy is your ability to approach a project without prior
assumptions, definitions or theoretical frameworks. A key aspect of this method of analysis
is phenomenological reduction (Alfornon 2019).
• Phenomenological Research
- Enables you to explore experiences and sensory perception (different to abstract
perceptions) of researched phenomenon, and the formation of understanding based on
these experiences and perceptions (Alfornon 2019).
- Your research strategy is based, therefore, on either your own or other people’s
experiences and sensory perceptions (Alfornon 2019).
Table 1: Lived Experiences of Hermeneutical Phenomenology
Lived Experiences Description

It refers to our physical body or bodily presence in our everyday

lives, including all that we feel, reveal, conceal, and share through
Lived body our lived body. We are always present in the world through our
body; as such, it is through our lived body that we communicate,
feel, interact, and experience the world (Stephanie Rich 2013).

It is the existential theme that refers us to the world or landscape

in which human beings move and find themselves at home. When
we want to understand a person we ask about his or her world,
Lived space
profession, interests, background, place of birth and childhood,
etc.
(Manen 2011)
 It can be understood as time as we experience it. This is composed
of a subjective understanding of time as opposed to the more
objective or “factual” time, and it refers to the ways in which we
Lived time experience our world on a temporal level. The way we feel can
influence how we experience time and moments, and conversely,
constraints, freedoms, and demands placed by time can also affect
how we feel (Stephanie Rich 2013).

Refers to the relations we make and/or maintain with others in

our lifeworld. Our human relations include the communications
Lived human relations and relationships we experience with others through the spaces
and interactions we share and create with them (Stephanie Rich
2013).

Human-Environment System
Human (David 2018)
- Have the capacity to interact with their environment.
- Humans and the environment have that “mutual” interaction with each other.
- Have the capacity to change or influence the balance of society. (David 2018)
Environment (David 2018)
- A complex of many variables which surrounds man as well as the living organisms.
- Includes water, air and land and the interrelation ships which exists among and between
water, air and land.
System
- It may be described as a complex of interacting components together with the relationships
among them that permit the identification of a boundarymaintaining entity or process. (David
2018)
Human-Environment Systems (David 2018)
- Also known as CHANS (coupled human and natural system).
- Dynamical two-way interactions between human systems (e.g. economic, social) and natural
(e.g. hydrologic, atmospheric, biological, geological) systems.

- Social and natural systems are inseparable.

- Tackle broader investigations into the complex nature of reciprocating interactions and
feedbacks humans on the environment and the effect of the environment on humans.
Landscape (Berroya 2017)
- The visible features of an area of land of countryside or land, often considered in terms of
their aesthetic appeal.
- Part of the Earth’s surface that can be viewed at one time from one place.
- Continually changing under the influence of many different factors.
2 Types of Landscape (David 2018)
1. Natural Landscape
– Original landscapes that exists before it is acted upon by human culture.
2. Cultural Landscape
– Cultural properties [that] represent the combined works of nature and of man (World
Heritage Committee)
– Designed and created intentionally by man
 – An organically evolved landscape which may be relict landscape

Thematic Map
- Focuses on a specific theme or subject area such as physical phenomena like temperature
variation, rainfall distribution, and population density in an area (Berroya 2017).
Mental Map (Berroya 2017)
- First-person perspective of an area and how they interact with it.
- The image you have of your neighborhood. Your mental map of where you live allows you to
know how to get to your favorite coffee shop.
- It is what you use to plan activities and routes to travel.
Spatial Distribution (Berroya 2017)
- The arrangement of a phenomenon across Earth’s surface and graphical display of such an
arrangement is an important tool in geographical and environmental statistics.
- Describes how spread out a population is (what area it occurs in), while population density
describes how many individuals are found in a given area.
Spatial Analysis
- A type of geographical analysis which seeks to explain patterns of human behavior and its
spatial expression in terms of mathematics, and geometry, that is, locational analysis. (Berroya
2017)
Environmental Issues (Environmental Action and Effects)
Many of the environmental issues today relate to humans over use of finite resources for economic
development. As a species, humans tend to regard the environment as a never ending source of
materials and energy. Healthy ecosystems and environments are necessary to the survival of
humans and other organisms. Ways of reducing negative human impact are environmental
resources management, environmental protection, and environmentally friendly chemical
engineering (David 2018).
Table 2: Human Actions and Its Environment – Source: (David 2018)

Description
1. Human
Overpopulation Human overpopulation occurs when the ecological foot print of a human
population in a specific geographical location exceeds the carrying capacity of
the place occupied by that group.

-Water scarcity
-Land reclamation
-Waste disposal management
-Urbanization

2. Intensive Intensive farming or intensive agriculture is a kind of agriculture where a lot

Farming of capital and labor are used to increase the yield that can be obtained per
area.

-Intensive animal farming

-Intensive crop farming
-Pesticide drift
-Plasticulture
-Slash and burn
-Deforestation
-Environmental effects of meat products
3. Exhaustive Land
Use It involves exhaustive management and modification of natural environment
or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural
habitats such as arable fields, arrangements, activities, and inputs that
people undertake in a certain land cover type.
-Habitat fragmentation
-Habitat destruction
-Land degradation
-Built environment
-Desertification

4. Hydrology
It is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on
Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources and
environmental watershed sustainability.

-Tile drainage
-Flooding
-Landslide