data. Third phase relates to active listening. More than one episode of data gathering may be needed. Hammersley (2008) argues caution when researchers rely solely on interviews as a data collection method. Interviews have a tendency to be unreflective and do create opportunity for the researcher to enable the participant to expand on meaning and its implications. Figure Three (pg. 49) presents an outline of the data collection strategies to be implemented within this research. For the purpose of this study data collection methods include interviews; critical incident accounts (participants have used digital recorders to capture their experience at the time it occurs) and reflective accounts. Table one (pg. 85) identifies the sample size and the amount of data collected over the first year period. The rationale for the general design and development of the methods used to gather the data is presented, followed by a detailed/systematic description of these methods. I was conscious of the demands of this study on the participants, considering their adaptation to the programme. Therefore, data collection was spread out over one year to capture the full student experience, with the added benefit of allowing participants time to reflect on the research phenomena between data collection episodes. Interviews In hermeneutic phenomenology the interview serves very specific purposes. First, it is used as a means for exploring and gathering narratives (or stories) of the lived experiences. Second, it is a vehicle by which to develop a conversational relationship with the participant about the meaning of an experience. This may be done through reflection with the participant on the topic at hand (van Manen 1997). Interviews also allow participants to share their stories in their own words. There are various ways of conducting research interviews, including structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews (Minichiello et al. 1999).
data. Third phase relates to active listening. More than one episode of data gathering may be needed. Hammersley (2008) argues caution when researchers rely solely on interviews as a data collection method. Interviews have a tendency to be unreflective and do create opportunity for the researcher to enable the participant to expand on meaning and its implications. Figure Three (pg. 49) presents an outline of the data collection strategies to be implemented within this research. For the purpose of this study data collection methods include interviews; critical incident accounts (participants have used digital recorders to capture their experience at the time it occurs) and reflective accounts. Table one (pg. 85) identifies the sample size and the amount of data collected over the first year period. The rationale for the general design and development of the methods used to gather the data is presented, followed by a detailed/systematic description of these methods. I was conscious of the demands of this study on the participants, considering their adaptation to the programme. Therefore, data collection was spread out over one year to capture the full student experience, with the added benefit of allowing participants time to reflect on the research phenomena between data collection episodes. Interviews In hermeneutic phenomenology the interview serves very specific purposes. First, it is used as a means for exploring and gathering narratives (or stories) of the lived experiences. Second, it is a vehicle by which to develop a conversational relationship with the participant about the meaning of an experience. This may be done through reflection with the participant on the topic at hand (van Manen 1997). Interviews also allow participants to share their stories in their own words. There are various ways of conducting research interviews, including structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews (Minichiello et al. 1999).
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