Describing the Use of Interpretive Phenomenological Inquiry with a Gadamerian Hermeneutic Lens to Explore the Experience of Fathering a Premature Baby

Background: Phenomenology is a perspective that helps researchers to explore and understand everyday experiences without having previous knowledge or personal insight about those experiences (Converse, 2012).   It allows a process of reflective discovery as understanding takes place during the experience.  Fathering a premature baby is a unique experience for men.  Dialogue about the lived experience between the researcher and each father is considered a major event.  Language is a way in which understanding and interpretation of an experience occurs and “all thinking is confined to language, as a limit as well as a possibility” (Gadamer, 1976, p. 127).  Without someone to hear and understand another’s experience it could be said an experience did not occur.  Language is so much more than an object in one’s hands; indeed, it truly holds traditions of a culture and is the medium in and through human existence and perception of the world (Gadamer, 1976).  Meaning is not about the interpretation by the researcher, but more about meaning within the text of the experience and helps to resolve differences in understanding. 

Aim: To describe the use of interpretive phenomenology, through the lens of Gadamerian hermeneutics, to explore the lived experience of fathering a premature baby.

Methods:  Gadamerian hermeneutics can be used to understand the paternal lived experience of fathering a premature baby.  The use of dialogue and language allow others to share their experiences or meanings while establishing new ideas or thoughts.  The goal of research utilizing phenomenology and hermeneutics is to understand a phenomenon as experienced by a particular group of people, in this case the paternal experience.

Results:  The importance of the findings of this type of research is to help nurses provide more meaningful patient care based on the lived experience of patients and their families. 

Conclusion:  A need exists for a deeper understanding of the paternal experience during the birth of a premature baby and effective interpretation of this experience must be gained.  Therefore, the use of interpretive phenomenology, through the lens of Gadamer, is the most appropriate method for the investigation into this phenomenon.