Phenomenological Methods Phenomenological methods ‘aim to describe, understand and interpret the meanings of experiences of human life’ (Blur and Wood, 2011, pg.2) with focus on what it is like to experience a particular situation (Blur and Wood, 2011). For instance, in this case the relationship between body and water and how the senses are enhanced. Edmund Husserl, who is a key philosopher in phenomenology, developed the theory of ‘lifeworld which refers to the ‘everyday experiences that we live and which we reflect upon’ (Blur and Wood, 2011, pg. 4). Through exploring, studying and reflecting upon experiences from a first person perspective (Lester, 1999), phenomenological research methods considered the individual’s perception, imagination and behaviours throughout the experience (Post, 2015). This allowed for a critical understanding of an individual’s experience within a pool environment as well as ‘emphasising the importance of personal perspective and interpretation’ (Lester, 1999) therefore, allowing for a valuable insight into one’s relationship with water and how this creates an experience with lasting benefits to health and wellbeing.
This research methodology consisted of collecting data through informal interviews and narratives. These methods ‘are the key to producing a description of the experiences that were lived through’ (Blur and Wood, 2011, pg. 3). In addition, diaries and visual methods were also adopted as this enabled thoughts and experiences to be noted down and recorded at the time, therefore, enabling the research to be critically analysed and compared. On Monday 17th February 2020 at 9:15am I observed participants and users of Newcastle City Baths from the foyer of the building. I noted down site observations, personal thoughts and experiences and as well as the use of photographs which enhanced the observation and considerations of how experiences are created within pool environments. However, like other qualitative research methods, it has been suggested that phenomenological methods generalise the research collected given that researcher can interpret the results in different ways (Blur and Wood, 2011).
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