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Article
Investigating Not-Knowing: Research Methodology
Child & Youth Services (2008)
  • Ben Anderson-Nathe, Portland State University
Abstract

Phenomenology offers a unique and useful approach to understanding how people experience events or phenomena. The method is particularly instructive in exploring how youth workers experience and make sense of moments of not-knowing in the context of their professional relationships with young people. This chapter provides an introduction to phenomenological research, including its theoretical foundations and procedures. The research methods of this study, including participant recruitment, interview format, data analysis, and presentation, are included, as are the five themes associated with the experience of not knowing what to do: (a) the paralysis of stuckness, (b) features of despair, (c) humiliation and the fear of being found out, (d) questions of vocation and calling, and (e) the transition from not-knowing to knowing.

Keywords
  • Social work with children -- United States,
  • Social service -- Research -- Methodology
Disciplines
Publication Date
September 7, 2008
Publisher Statement
Copyright (2008 )Taylor & Francis
Citation Information
Ben Anderson-Nathe. "Investigating Not-Knowing: Research Methodology" Child & Youth Services Vol. 30 Iss. 1-2 (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ben_anderson-nathe/7/