Discovering the lived experiences of graduate students in the virtual space: Reflections and lessons from a phenomenological inquiry

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically reshaped the academic life of graduate students and revealed the inequities in the traditional education system in the Philippines. This study is a qualitative navigation of the lived accounts of development communication (devcom) graduate students at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. It foregrounds devcom as a field of theory and practice in honor of its pioneer Professor Emeritus Nora C. Quebral and her contribution to the ferment of the field. The credence of phenomenology informed the direction of this research in addressing a paucity of literature that examines the experiences of graduate students on remote learning within the current milieu. The transition of academia into a new phase of development surfaced stories of personal and academic struggles. As social beings, they engage virtual and real spaces in coping that redirect them to a sense of purpose and semblance of normalcy at a time of uncertainties. To address their recurring and emerging conditions is the cultivation of institutional support and online forms of communication support as two pivotal forms of their reflective recommendations. Drawing from the participants’ reflections, I developed a schema that investigates the intersectionality of their struggles, coping, and recommendations towards a conducive remote learning milieu.

The Teaching of the Philosophical Concepts Underlying Hermeneutical Phenomenology

Researchers who plan to utilize the methodological approach of hermeneutical phenomenology must first understand the philosophical assumptions that provide the epistemological foundation for this methodology. The objective of this chapter is to present a set of resources for instructors of research methodology coursework, specifically instructors who aim to introduce students to the research methodology of hermeneutical phenomenological inquiry. The core philosophical concepts discussed in this chapter are 1) the phenomenological attitude, 2) hermeneutics as way of being, 3) the four lifeworld existentials, and 4) the significance of mood. This chapter will begin by presenting a brief summary of these four philosophical concepts. Then, this chapter will introduce three frameworks of curriculum theory, specifically as related to the use of curricular objectives in the practice of teaching. Finally, this chapter will present five distinct approaches to lesson planning and will apply each lesson planning approach to the teaching of these four core philosophical concepts.

The distinctions of Heideggerian phenomenological research method

PurposeThis current paper attempts to bring more light to the current debate of understanding phenomenological research methods, in order to clarify the interpretive phenomenological inquiry with Heidegger's philosophy of phenomenology.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uniquely presents the three distinctions of Heideggerian thoughts in conducting interpretive phenomenological research: (1) realizing the problem of identity; (2) recognizing the inadequacy of ontology; and (3) interpreting the subject matter through historical critiques.FindingsThe paper also discusses the basis of phenomenological research issues of a priori knowledge, data analysis process and qualitative research issues of validity, reliability, and creditability. In the conclusion and recommendation, this paper suggests six key points to implement a proper research strategy to employ Heideggerian phenomenological inquiry in social science and policymaking research where investigators are dealing with the multiplicity of existing and alternative worldviews.Originality/valueThe paper idea is fresh and adds new knowledge to the field.

Academic Resilience: The Ultimate Thriving Constituent Toward Persistence in Doctoral Studies

A doctoral degree is perceived as a milestone in one’s expedition of educational advancement; however, studies show that 40% to 60% doctoral candidates do not possess persistence to complete their degree. The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry is to explore the factors that contribute toward increasing the persistence level among the doctoral students. Semi structured in-person interviews of eight participants (four male and four female) selected through snowball sampling were conducted in a university setting. The thematic analysis identified certain motivational factors including career progression, gaining subject command, and the desire to achieve self-actualization. Autonomy, sense of purpose, self-determination, and problem-solving skills were found to be the most effective factors that promote resiliency in the students to help complete their degrees.

Songs of A Caged Bird: A Glimpse into the Being of Youth Inside the Prison System

Understanding young inmates’ experiences are essential since their lives have been shaped by the impact of social exclusion. This study aimed to explore the meaning of the lived experiences of young adults inside the prison system. The phenomenological inquiry was utilized, which is grounded in Martin Heidegger’s philosophy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 to 29-year-old inmates incarcerated for at least one year. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, four themes emerged: An Unfamiliar Melody (with two subthemes: Humming with Frustrations and Tunes of Solitude); The Eyes Outside the Cage; Turning Over a New Feather; and If My Wings Unclipped. The “songs” of the caged bird tell about the “meanings” of restricted freedom--from being able to dip its wings in the orange sun rays down to being tied in chains. Being held inside a prison limits a person from experiencing life as they should. Opportunities to soar high were taken away. The consequences caused them the fragility of emotions: frustration, loneliness, and humiliation; yet, they still have a speck of hope. AbstrakNyanyian Burung dalam Sangkar: Sebuah Pandangan terhadap Kehidupan Remaja dalam Sistem Penjara. Memahami pengalaman narapidana berusia muda sangat penting karena kehidupan mereka yang terdampak oleh pengucilan sosial. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengeksplorasi makna dari pengalaman hidup orang berusia dewasa muda di dalam sistem penjara. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan fenomenologis yang didasarkan pada filosofi Martin Heidegger. Pengumpulan data menggunakan metode wawancara semi-berstruktur dengan narapidana berusia 18 hingga 29 tahun yang sudah dipenjara setidaknya selama satu tahun. Berdasarkan analisis fenomenologi interpretatif, muncul empat tema, yaitu: An Unfamiliar Melody (dengan dua subtema: Humming with Frustrations dan Tunes of Solitude); The Eyes Outside the Cage; Turning Over a New Feather; dan If My Wings Unclipped. “Nyanyian” burung dalam sangkar yang menceritakan tentang “makna” kebebasan yang terbatas—mulai dari mencelupkan sayapnya di bawah sinar matahari jingga hingga diikat dengan rantai. Kondisi dipenjara membatasi seseorang untuk menjalankan kehidupan sebagaimana mestinya. Peluang mereka untuk terbang melambung tinggi dirampas. Hal ini menyebabkan emosi mereka rapuh: frustrasi, kesepian, dan penghinaan; tetapi, mereka masih memiliki setitik harapan. Kata Kunci: fenomenologi, frustasi, narapidana dewasa muda, sistem penjara

phenomenological inquiry of higher education institutions' (HEIs ) online experiences

The capability of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) presents instructional innovations to assist educational institutions in the cause of the paradigm shift in education brought on by pandemic crises. The impetus of this study is to listen to the voices of the stakeholders and points the phenomenological inquiry of the higher educational institutions on online experiences of faculty, administration and students. The indicators that need to focus are online teaching programs, self-learning direction and design are provided through online teaching problems. With this, students are encouraged to engage in self-directed learning using the resources and content of their classes, as well as provide online instructor transformation to provide information and data for motivation, engagement, interest, and effective lessons during the study process. The obstacles on educational curriculum may impede the learning capabilities of students and the quality and standard of learning is being sacrificed. Hence, the investigation of this paper's findings, there is a great hindrance between the COVID-19 epidemic's barriers and its impact on the educational system in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Therefore, HEIs may adapt blended learning and create learning modalities for future use.