The extension of Colaizzi's method of phenomenological enquiry

Aim: Originating from unfunded research undertaken in 2007, this paper offers an overview of Colaizzi’s method of phenomenological analysis and proposes an extension to the original seven step approach enhancing rigour and, expanding information sources to enhance in-depth descriptions of phenomena for study. Background: The focus on human experience emanates from the human sciences in which the everyday lived world of humans constitutes the ontological and epistemological focus of enquiry – understanding of human experiences. Since the emergence of phenomenology as a method of enquiry, advances in phenomenological thought and research methods have emerged. Method: Colaizzi’s phenomenological method of enquiry was used as the basis of enquiry in this study. Findings: The extension to Colaizzi’s method of analysis emanated from recent research conducted by the authors to allow participants to express their experiences through everyday language. These ‘expressions of life’ included – art, music, poetry, metaphor as symbolic representations – as a vehicle for participants’ to explicate their experiences. Conclusion: The additional step proposed as an extension to Colaizzi’s seven step analysis offers researchers using Colaizzi’s method greater access to implicit and explicit meanings embedded in participant descriptions by utilising ‘expressions of life’ – art, music, poetry, metaphor as symbolic representations – as articulated by the participants in explicating their experience of the phenomenon.