MAY 2001, VOL 13. NO 5

R E S E A R C H C O R N E R

Hermeneutics us a methodology for

textual analysls ast month's column discussed phenomenology and explained that the term

hermeneutics often is used in con- junction or even in confusion with the term phenomenology. This column will define and prwide a background of hermeneutics. The relationship that hermeneutics has with phenomenology also will be reviewed. The column will con- clude with a discussion of critical hermeneutics and its research implications.

DEFINIT..ON AND RACKGROUND

hermeneutics is te~tu.4 interpreta- tion, or, in other words, finding meaning in tbe written word. TWO embedded assumptions of hermeneutim are that humans experience the worId through lan- guage and this language provides both understandmg and knowl- edge. The term hermeneutics was derived from two words-the Greek verb hermeneuein, meaning to interpret, and the noun hermeneiu, meaning interpreta- tion.' This method of textual analysis emphasizes the sociocul- tural and historic influences on qualitative interpretation. It also exposes hidden meanings?

Historically, hermeneutics has been associated with the interpre- tation of biblical texts. Religious leaders sought to identify the liter- al or authentic meanings of reli- gious fexts so they could explain how to live a Christian life. Early

through a method termed recon-

A simple definition of

monks analyzed literary works

struction (ie, forming a new per- spective) to find the original intended meaning. Hermeneutics has evolved from an analysis of biblical texts to a method used to gain undexstanding of human nat~re.~

PHENOMENOLOGY AND HERMENEUTICS AS APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDIN0

A close link between phenom- enology and hermeneutics has resulted in the interchangeable use of the terms; however, philosophi- cal beliefs differ among phenome- nologists and hermeneutic philosophers.' Phenomenology focuses on a person's lived expe- rience and elicits commonalties and shared meanings, whereas hermeneutics refers to an interpre- tation of textual language. Although there is no absolute or universal defulition of either term, when these cancepts arc UBed together, they usually are closely related to qualitative research methods that use words or nma- tives as the basis to gain under- standing. Researchers must define these terms and link them with a particular philosophy or approach as they develop the framework for a research study.

Hermeneutic analysis primarily focuses on texts as a research data source. These texts can be gener- ated by stories, interviews, partici- pant observations, diaries, litera- ture, letters, or other relevant doc- ument~.~ One article identifies three strategies for generating nursing stories, including story-

telling, narration, and critical inci- dent technique.6 Altfrough the backgrwnds of these three strate- gies differ, they are very similar in that they ask a p~son to recall a meaningful experience about a specific topic. After a text is gen- erated, usually one or more approaches is used to idenhfy meaningful pieces of information, which in turn are used to generate themes or categories from a group of texts. These themes or cate- gories communicate findings that reflect knowledge of the phenom- enon under study.

CRmcAL MRMENEIJTICS Critical hermeneutics is linked

to a view of science known as crit- ical social theory (ie, identification of societal contradictions).' One purpose of critical hermeneutics is to expose hidden power imbal- ances and challenge the status quo? The researcher always should clarify his or her interpretation of critical hermeneutics when asking a research question and reporting the findings. For example, a criti- cal hermeneutics approach might be used to explore hidden power imbalances in the surgical setting by examining written transcripts of surgeon and nurse communication during surgery.

Philosophers associated with critical hermeneutic perspectives include Paul Ricour, Jurgen Habermas, and Hans-Georg Gadarner.9 Gadamer 's hermeneu- tics emphasizes the e?tW&Wnass of language in OUT understanding of our world.1° His work helped

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extend philosophical hermeneutics to critical hermeneutics by stress- ing the importance of tradition, background, and history in our ways of understanding. Gadamer believed that understanding comes from interpretations embedded in our linguistic and cultural tradi- tions, which contribute to our inherent prejudices.”

of prejudice as prejudgment.I2 Prejudices are preconceived notions of things arising from our past experience and socialization. Some believe the way to eradi- cate prejudice is to maintain objectivity by not considering previous experiences. Gadamer, however, believed this was impossible. He believed that to understand each other we cannot shed our past experiences, and that these experiences actually enhance our understanding. Gadamer advocated continually striving to identify our prejudices. In support of this, one philoso- pher stated

Gadamer defined the concept

To be engaged in a conver sation with a text is to bring one’s prejudices into play. On the basis of one’s prejudices’ one is able to understand the content of what the text says. The reader is engaged from a definite point of view and is only able to understand the content of the text from this perspective. The very fact that we question the text suggests that we are trying to transcend our own prejudices.”

The prejudices of a researcher originate from the researcher’s backgro~nd.‘~ From the her- meneutic perspective, personal

experiences are not considered an impediment to the research- er’s ability to understand. In fact, the researcher’s values provide contextual meaning for con- sumers. For the reader to under- stand the influence of the re-

Prejudices are preconceived

notions of things arising from past experience and socialization.

searcher’s background, the researcher must document his or her decisions and actions in a research journal.I5 Excerpts from the research journal frequently are published along with the research. In critical hermeneu- tics, the researcher also must document his or her background in terms of race, gender, educa- tion, and experiential back- ground related to the topic at hand. For example, a periopera- tive researcher studying multi- cultural surgical patients might document his or her Caucasian, Anglo-Saxon background grow- ing up in a rural community and the resultant lack of exposure to diverse ethnic groups.

One researcher used critical hermeneutics to analyze funda- mental nursing textbooks in an effort to uncover common types of racial bias. The textbooks pro- vided a textual data source that was analyzed for themes reflect- ing the portrayal of African

Americans. The researcher clear- ly linked the philosophy of Gadamer, especially the concept of prejudice, with the research topic of racial bias. The researcher’s race, background, and research assumptions were explicated in a research journal providing readers with a context for critique. The thematic find- ings then were compared to numerous literary sources on racial bias. African-American experts were used to confirm the findings that nursing textbooks may contribute to reinforcing racial bias. This research did not explore a lived experience and, therefore, could not be considered phenomenological. Rather, the goal was to uncover hidden bias, which is congruent with critical social theory. This research, therefore, was considered critical hermeneutic rather than philo- sophical hermeneutic.

CONCL USlOiV

provided insight into phenome- nology and hermeneutics. Although these two philosophies may seem complex, reading this type of research usually is not difficult. Research findings usu- ally are stated in terms of themes or categories. Passages from the text often are included to provide readers with examples, allowing them to decide whether they agree with the researcher’s iden- tification of themes and cate- gories. Refer to the “Research Corner” in the March 200 1 AORN Journal, which addresses the evaluation of findings to assist you in your critique. An important assumption of these two methodologies is that knowl- edge is embedded in our nursing experiences and language.

The past two columns have

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Phenomenology and hermeneu- tics provide two approaches to communicate and articulate the knowledge embedded in our practice. Become familiar with

NOTES 1. J Thompson, “Hermeneutic

inquiry,” in Advancing Nursing Science Through Research, ed L E Moody (Newbury Park, Calif Sage Publications, 1990) 224-267.

2. D Allen, “Hermeneutics: Philosophical traditions and nursing practice research,” Nursing Science Quarterly 8 (Winter 1995) 174-182.

Phenomenological Movement: A Historical Introduction (The Hauge: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1982)

3. H Spiegelberg, The

69-421. 4. M Byme, “Uncovering Racial

Bias in Fundamental Nursing Textbooks: A Critical Hermeneutic Analysis of the Portrayal of African Americans” (PhD dissertation, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 2000) 41-47; Thompson, “Herme- neutic inquiry,” 224-267; A J Walters, “The phenomenological movement: Implications for nursing research,” Journal of Advanced Nursing 22 (October 1995) 791- 799.

5. P Benner, interpretive Phenomenology: Embodiment,

these methods by reading qualita- tive research. Learning more about both phenomenology and hermeneutics provides readers a more in-depth understanding for

Caring, and Ethics in Health and Illness (Thousand Oaks, Calif Sage Publications, 1994) 55-81.

6. I von Post, K Erikkson, “A hermeneutic textual analysis of suf- fering and caring in the perioperative context,” Journal of Advanced Nursing 30 (October 1999) 983-989.

7. Allen, “Hermeneutics: Philosophical traditions and nursing practice research,” 174-182.

Berman, “Stories and numbers: Coexistence without compromise,” Advances in Nursing Science 18 (September 1995) 14-26.

9. J Baptiste, “Race and Attrition in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: A Hermeneutic Inquiry” (PhD dis- sertation, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 1995) 32-51; Byme, “Uncovering Racial Bias in Fundamental Nursing Textbooks: A Critical Hermeneutic Analysis of the Portrayal of African Americans,” 224-267; A Hiraki, “Tradition, Rationality, and Power in Introductory Nursing Textbooks: A Critical Hermeneutics Study” (PhD dissertation, University of San

8. M Ford-Gilboe, J Campbell, H

a particular study and its specific research methods.

MICHELLE BYRNE RN, MS, PHD, CNOR

NURSINQ RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Francisco, 1989) 37-63.

Method, translators, J Weinsheimer, D G Marshall (New York: Continuum, 1994) 173-492; H Gadamer, Philosophical Hermeneutics, translator, D E Linge (Berkeley, Calif University of California Press, 1976) 18- 177.

ing research of Gadamer’s herme- neutic philosophy,” Journal of Advanced Nursing 24 (December

10. H Gadamer, Truth and

11, E Pascoe, “The value to nurs-

1996) 1309-1314. 12. Gadamer, Truth and Method,

173-492; Gadamer, Philosophical Hermeneutics, 18- 177.

13. S J Maguire, “Gadamer’s Hermeneutics: Criticism and Community” (PhD dissertation, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 1991) 11-305.

14. Allen, “Hermeneutics: Philosophical traditions and nursing practice research,” 174- 182.

15. T Koch, “Implementation of a hermeneutic inquiry in nursing: Philosophy, rigour, and representa- tion,” Journal of Advanced Nursing 24 (July 1996) 174- 184.

Behavior Problems Part of, Not Product of, Epilepsy A new study suggests that behavior problems in chil- dren with epilepsy actually may be part of the dis- ease and not a side effect, according to a Jan 4, 2001, news release from Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. Children with epilepsy often have behavior problems, such as difficulty pay- ing attention and difficulty thinking. It is commonly thought that the problems develop after the onset of the disease and as a reaction to the disease and its treatment. The new study negates this theory by showing that children’s behavior problems often begin before their first seizure is recognized by care- givers, according to the release. The study compared

224 children ages 4 to 14. who had suffered their first seizure recognized by caregivers, to their near- est-in-age healthy sibling. Researchers asked parents to check off a list of behaviors demonstrated by their child in the six months before his or her f i s t seizure. They found that one-third of the children already had behavioral problems at the time they experienced their first recognized seizure.

Study by IUPUl Professors Suggests Behavior Problems May Be Part, Not Product of, Epilepsy (news release: Indianapolis, Indian0 Universii)-Purdue University lndianapalis, Jun 4, 200 I ) 1 .

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