Writing in the Dark: Phenomenological Studies in Interpretive Inquiry
Writing in the Dark brings together a wide range of studies of relevance to qualitative researchers and professional practitioners. Each chapter is an example of how a different kind of human experience may be explored, and how the methods used for investigating phenomena may contribute to the process of human understanding. Max van Manen provides the opening and closing chapters for the book, and also an introduction to each selection. The authors are all accomplished professionals in their respective fields; they show how the challenge of doing qualitative research can be pursued through the process of inquiry, reflection and writing. The sixteen chapters offer the reader compelling insights into topics of concern to education, health science, clinical psychology, information technology, the designing arts, pedagogy, and related dimensions of everyday life. Writing in the dark is a valuable and rich resource for people who would like to learn more about phenomenological reflection and writing.
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1
Writing Phenomenology
Max van Manen
Chapter 2
Ritualized Experiences
The Nursing “How Are You?”
Brenda L Cameron
Chapter 3
Aesthetic Experiences
Drawing to Attention
Rose Montgomery-Whicher
Chapter 4
Common Experiences
“The Look” in Teacher's Performance Evaluation
Peggy Ann Howard
Chapter 5
Uncommon Experiences
Living with “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”
Mary Haase
Chapter 6
Variable Experiences
Classroom Conversation
Shuying Li
Chapter 7
Novel Experiences
Keeping in Touch by Electronic Mail
Teresa Dobson
Chapter 8
Modern Experiences
Stepmothering
Verna Schmidt
Chapter 9
Ambiguous Experiences
Modes of Waiting
Mikio Fujita
Chapter 10
Ineffable Experiences
Memories of Breathing
Monica Clarke
Chapter 11
Forgotten Experiences
When a Child Feels Left Alone
Anna Kirova
Chapter 12
Remembered Experiences
Remembering the Childhood Loss of a Mother
Darlene L. Witte-Townsend
Chapter 13
Scientized Experiences
Experiencing Diagnosis
Yvonne Hayne
Chapter 14
Cultivated Experiences
Learning Retreat Meditation
Philo Hove
Chapter 15
Technological Experiences
Is there a Body in this Class?
Norm Friesen
Chapter 16
Writing in the Dark
Max van Manen