RESEARCH PAPER Hermeneutic phenomenology: A methodology of choice for midwives Maureen Miles RN RM MCN (Maternal and Child Health) Lecturer (Midwifery), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, Australia Karen Francis RN PhD MHlth Sc Head School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia Ysanne Chapman RN PhD MSc (Hons) Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mackay Campus, Mackay, Queensland, Australia Beverley Taylor B.Ed M.Ed PhD Professor of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, Australia Accepted date September 2012 Miles M, Francis K, Chapman Y, Taylor B. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2013; 19: 409–414 Hermeneutic phenomenology: A methodology of choice for midwives Hermeneutic phenomenology has been used widely by researchers to understand lived experiences. This methodology asserts that individual people are as unique as their life stories. The practice of midwifery is underpinned by a philosophy that values women and the uniqueness of their child-bearing journey. The tenets of hermeneutics phenomenology align with those of contemporary midwifery practice, making it a useful research methodology for providing insights into issues relevant to the profession. The purpose of this paper is to unravel some foundational concepts of hermeneutic phenom- enology and recommend it as a methodology of choice for midwives to apply to their application to midwifery-in-action. Key words: Heidegger, hermeneutics, midwifery, phenomenology, qualitative research. INTRODUCTION Hermeneutic phenomenology is both a research method and a philosophy. There are as many styles of phenom- enology as there are phenomenologists, 1,2 however, they are categorized into two discrete positions. 2–6 This paper will not explore the origins of phenomenology or clarify the differences between the two schools of thought, as this debate has been argued elsewhere. 2,7,8 Rather, the paper explores the theoretical assumptions of herme- neutic phenomenology and reveals the ‘fit’ they have with understanding the experiences of midwives and the relationships they have with pregnant women. The con- cepts of Dasein, Sorge and authenticity have been selected for description in this article, because they are fundamental to midwifery practice. These concepts are embedded firstly, in Heidegger’s 3 notion of being-in-the- world, and secondly, to the idea that people are con- stantly relating to each other and elements of the world that surround them. It is from these human and contex- tual relationships that understandings and meanings are derived. 9 Correspondence: Maureen Miles, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Northways Road, Churchill, Vic. 3842, Australia. Email: maureen.miles@monash.edu International Journal of Nursing Practice 2013; 19: 409–414 doi:10.1111/ijn.12082 © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd