Researchers analyze qualitative data in various ways to generate findings, but some analysis plans apply specifically to certain qualitative research designs. In phenomenology, the Modified Van Kaam approach, popularized by Moustakas, serves as the primary data analysis plan. This method stands out for its detailed analysis requirements.
The Modified Van Kaam analysis includes several essential steps. First, researchers must step outside themselves through bracketing and imaginative variation, enabling them to examine the data from different perspectives. Next, they follow a structured process to analyze each interview. Finally, since each interview serves as its own dataset, researchers ensure a thorough and detailed analysis. For example, if you have ten participants, you will perform steps 1 through 6 for each participant.
It is very common for the results section of a Modified Van Kaam analysis to be over a hundred pages. Despite the length, maintaining the integrity of participants’ voices is crucial, making this analysis plan ideal for phenomenological research. It provides a rich understanding of participants’ lived experiences of the phenomenon without altering their narrative, experiences, and stories. It allows qualitative researchers to deeply explore the participants’ lived experiences in order to understand the essence of the phenomenon through the voices of those who lived it.