Social constructionism: A phenomenological approach

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CHAPTER THREE: METHODS AND METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

This chapter describes how this study came about and the methods used, along with my choice of philosophical and methodological approaches for an investigation into the phenomenon of older peoples‟ lived experiences of rest home life. Phenomenology is one well established perspective of social constructionism and can be applied in innovative ways as this thesis illustrates. Based on extensive field work, this study offers an interpretive and locally situated critical gerontology of the ways in which rest home residents make meaning of their day-to-day lives. In this chapter, I explain how a social constructionist approach to phenomenology can produce an interpretive representation of rest home residents‟ lived experiences. The term „live‟ comes from Old English and means to be alive and to pass life while the word „experience‟ comes from Old French and Latin, and is defined as “knowledge gained by repeated trials” and “to try, test” (Harper, 2001). I draw on van Manen‟s (1990, 1997, 1998, 2002) and Schütz‟s (1962, 1972, 1970; Schütz & Luckmann, 1973) phenomenological approaches in order to consider the philosophical and methodological issues in seeking perspectives of the lifeworld. Researching the lifeworld will be presented in this chapter in light of the study‟s main research question How do older people living in New Zealand rest homes experience daily life?

MIXED-METHODS

RESEARCH DESIGN

The procedures used to collect and make sense of the data relating to the research questions are the methods undertaken for this study. Mixed-methods include both quantitative and qualitative research techniques (Brannen, 2005; Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004) and generate knowledge not available when undertaking either a qualitative study or quantitative study separately (O’Cathain, Murphy, & Nicholl, 2007). The value and risk of mixing methods in any one study continue to be debated (Bryman, 2004, 2007; Creswell & Tashakkori, 2007; Fry, 2000; Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2007) and until very recently most methodological approaches have been either quantitative or qualitative (Creswell, 2003). Now, theorising the application of mixed-methods research has become more widespread and productive (Murray, 2003; Tashakkori & Creswell, 2007) as illustrated by a dedicated Journal of Mixed Methods Research. A mixed-methods design (Figure 2.1) offered several ways to address the aim of the study, which was to explore the lived experiences of older people living in New Zealand rest homes. Qualitative research methods included interview summaries from these participants and researcher field-journal notes for scope and context. Audio-recorded interviews are from a subset of the participant residents whose voice is pivotal to the study findings. As a mode of enhancing my findings, data from a quantitative survey conducted at the rest homes during my study were included (Appendix 4). To select a subsample of the participants who were investigated qualitatively, systematic sampling was used because a priori there were no evidence based criteria on which to sample purposively. This method of probability sampling is less efficient than selecting on purpose the most information rich residents. However, it was easy and quick to use and since the sampling frame appeared homogenous and not to conceal any pattern, it permits inferences to all 352 residents from which the sample of 27 was selected. The mixed-methods I chose were each sound and legitimate research approaches in their own right, and offered complementary, potentially layered views of the same phenomena (May, 2007).

RECRUITMENT

This doctoral study was located in the control arm of a wider study, a cluster randomised controlled trial entitled „Promoting Independence in Residential Care‟ (PIRC) (Kerse, et al., 2008; Peri, et al., 2008b). THE PIRC TRIAL The PIRC trial aimed to test the effects of a physical activity intervention on the quality of life and physical function of older people in New Zealand rest homes in two cities, compared with a control group. Rest homes were chosen over aged care hospitals because residents were ambulatory to some degree so it was possible for them to increase their physical ability, and make and remember goal setting tasks. Rest homes were also selected because this level of care is under considerable pressure from increasing disability levels and decreasing government funding. It was hoped that improving levels of function in this level of care would relieve at least some of the care burden and improve residents‟ quality of life.The New Zealand Ministry of Health supplied the PIRC team with a list of all rest homes in two cities, Auckland and Christchurch. Criteria for rest home inclusion included status as a low level dependency rest home that catered for older people. In random order, using computer generated random numbers, rest homes were chosen and invited to take part until the desired number (determined by the power calculation for the trial) was recruited (Kerse, et al., 2008; Peri, et al., 2008b). Rest home management and staff members within each home identified eligible older residents for the study. Resident eligibility criteria included being aged 65 years or greater and “able to engage in a conversation about a goal, likely to remember the goal, and participate in a programme to achieve the goal” (Kerse, et al., 2008, p. 2).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF APPENDICES
1 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
1.2 A New Zealand context
1.2.1 History
1.2.2 Policy
1.3 Research significance of critical gerontology
1.4 Social constructionism: A phenomenological approach
1.5 Organisation of the thesis
2 CHAPTER TWO: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL AND LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual model
2.1.1 A modified framework approach
2.2 Selected literature
2.2.1 Residential care facility spaces
2.2.2 Temporality for residents
2.2.3 Embodiment
2.2.4 Residents‟ relations with others
2.3 Chapter discussion
3 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Mixed-methods
3.2.1 Research design
3.2.2 Recruitment
3.2.3 Data collection
3.2.4 Transcription
3.2.5 Coding and analysis
3.3 A phenomenological approach
3.3.1 Alfred Schütz
3.3.2 Max van Manen
3.4 Interpretive and descriptive methodology: A phenomenological approach
3.5 A modified framework approach
3.5.1 Deductive approach: The lifeworld
3.5.2 Inductive approach: I/C
3.6 Ethical approval
3.7 Chapter discussion
4 CHAPTER FOUR: THE REST HOME RESIDENTS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Backdrop
4.2.1 Demographics
4.2.2 Health characteristics
4.2.3 Activities
4.3 Chapter discussion
5 CHAPTER FIVE: LIVED SPACE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Communal – (semi) private
5.3 Expanding – restricting
5.4 Chapter discussion
6 CHAPTER SIX: LIVED TIME
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Timeless – bounded in time
6.3 Present – future
6.4 Chapter discussion
7 CHAPTER SEVEN: LIVED BODY
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Embodiment – disembodiment
7.3 Consuming – abstaining
7.4 Chapter discussion
8 CHAPTER EIGHT: LIVED RELATIONS
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Validating – invalidating
8.3 Chapter discussion
9 CHAPTER NINE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Synthesis of findings: Eu-work in the residents‟ lifeworld
9.2.1 Eu-work as self-maintenance
9.2.2 Reciprocal support as eu-work
9.3 Strengths of the study
9.4 Study limitations.
9.5 Research, policy and practice
9.6 Overview of thesis
9.7 Concluding summary
10 APPENDICES
11 REFERENCES