The Phenomenology Collective

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Episode 4: From Positivism to Phenomenology: Letting Go of Certainty (with Jade Sampford)

What happens when the numbers are no longer enough? In this episode of The Phenomenology Collective, we explore the philosophical shift from positivism to phenomenology—a transition many researchers make when they realise that measurement alone cannot capture the fullness of human experience. Moving from certainty, objectivity, and clear answers into a world of ambiguity, interpretation, and multiple meanings can feel disorientating. But it can also open up entirely new ways of understanding. We’re joined by Jade Sampford, a clinical specialist physiotherapist and doctoral researcher, who shares her journey from evidence-based clinical practice into interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Through her work exploring the lived experience of weight loss medication, Jade highlights how the same “outcome” can mean something profoundly different for different people. In this episode, we explore: * The differences between positivist and interpretivist paradigms * Why lived experience cannot always be measured or quantified * The discomfort—and possibility—of leaving behind “right answers” * How phenomenology reveals nuance, meaning, and contradiction * The role of reflexivity in challenging our assumptions * Bringing phenomenological insights into practice-driven fields like healthcare and education We also reflect on how this shift is not about rejecting positivism, but expanding our understanding—seeing paradigms not as opposites, but as companions offering different pieces of the puzzle. Whether you’re a practitioner, researcher, or simply curious about how we come to understand the world, this episode invites you to slow down, notice more, and embrace the richness of not knowing.

Episode 3: In the Weeds: The Lived Experience of Phenomenological Data Analysis (with Liz Shaw)

What does it actually feel like to analyse data phenomenologically? In this episode of The Phenomenology Collective, we step into one of the most challenging—and often isolating—phases of phenomenological research: data analysis. Without a step-by-step guide, researchers are left with rich, complex material and a deceptively simple question: what now? From transcripts and artefacts to meaning, interpretation, and insight, this episode explores what it means to truly work with data rather than simply process it. We’re joined by doctoral researcher Liz Shaw, who shares an honest, in-the-moment account of being immersed in interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Together, we explore the tensions, uncertainties, and unexpected moments of discovery that come with dwelling deeply in data. In this episode, we discuss: * What “dwelling with data” really means in practice * Why phenomenological analysis is slow, messy, and deeply relational * The tension between researcher voice and participant voice * Navigating uncertainty, doubt, and the feeling of being “lost” * The discipline of staying anchored to your research question * Why analysis is never truly finished—only paused We also reflect on the emotional texture of this stage—where exhaustion and joy often sit side by side—and why that discomfort may be a sign that meaningful work is happening. Whether you’re in the middle of your own analysis or preparing to begin, this episode offers reassurance that feeling uncertain isn’t a failure—it’s part of doing phenomenology well.

Episode 2: Creative Methods in Phenomenology: Ecomaps, Poetry and Plays (with Dr Liz Jestico)

In this episode of The Phenomenology Collective, we explore one of the most exciting—and unsettling—spaces in phenomenological research: the use of creative methods. Without a fixed “how-to” guide, phenomenological researchers are often required to think carefully—and creatively—about how to access and represent lived experience. But how far can we go? And how do we ensure that creativity remains grounded in phenomenological philosophy? We’re joined by Dr Liz Jestico, whose work in children’s nursing uses innovative approaches including ecomaps, poetry, and even structuring a thesis as a play. Together, we explore how these methods can deepen our engagement with lived experience, opening up new ways of seeing, understanding, and communicating meaning. This episode unpacks: * Why phenomenology resists step-by-step methods * How creative approaches can enrich (and complicate) research * The tension between imagination and rigour * What it means to stay “close” to lived experience * How writing, art, and poetry can become part of the analytic process We also reflect on the emotional and ethical dimensions of this work, including the responsibility of representing others’ experiences with care. Whether you’re a doctoral researcher, practitioner-scholar, or simply curious about phenomenology, this episode offers both reassurance and challenge: uncertainty isn’t a problem to solve—it’s part of the work.

Episode 1: What Is Phenomenology — and Why Does It Matter?

In this introductory episode of The Phenomenology Collective, hosts Dr Lewis Barrett-Rodger and Dr Sally Goldspink offer a gentle but rigorous orientation to phenomenology for listeners who are new to the approach. Drawing on their experience as applied researchers (rather than philosophers), Lewis and Sally explore what phenomenology is concerned with, where it comes from, and what makes it different from other qualitative methodologies. They discuss phenomenology’s philosophical origins, including the contributions of Husserl and Heidegger, and explain how these ideas have been translated into contemporary research practice. Along the way, they unpack key concepts such as lived experience, taken-for-grantedness, and the phenomenological attitude, and reflect on how phenomenological research works with people’s stories of experience to develop insight and understanding — even when that insight cannot be easily measured. This episode is designed as an orientation rather than a methods guide, offering reassurance, clarity, and depth without dense philosophy. It sets the foundations for future episodes on reflexivity, phenomenological interviewing, supervision, and the craft of phenomenological research.