van Manen’s method and reduction in a phenomenological hermeneutic study
Kristiina Heinonen Teacher of nursing, Savo Vocational College, University of Eastern Finland, Savo, Finland
Aim To describe van Manen’s method and concept of reduction in a study that used a phenomenological hermeneutic approach.
Background Nurse researchers have used van Manen’s method in different ways. Participants’ lifeworlds are described in depth, but descriptions of reduction have been brief.
Data sources The literature and knowledge review and manual search of research articles.
Review methods Databases Web Science, PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO, without applying a time period, to identify uses of van Manen’s method.
Discussion This paper shows how van Manen’s method has been used in nursing research and gives some examples of van Manen’s reduction.
Conclusion Reduction enables us to conduct in-depth phenomenological hermeneutic research and understand people’s lifeworlds.
Implications for research/practice As there are many variations in adapting reduction, it is complex and confusing. This paper contributes to the discussion of phenomenology, hermeneutic study and reduction. It opens up reduction as a method for researchers to exploit.
Nurse Researcher.
22, 4, 35-41.
doi: 10.7748/nr.22.4.35.e1326
Peer review
This article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interest
None declared
Received: 20 June 2014
Accepted: 26 November 2014
Want to read more?
Already have access? Log in
or
3-month trial offer for £5.25/month
Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
- Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
- RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
- NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
- Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
- A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days.
Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more