What does it actually feel like to analyse data phenomenologically?

In this episode of The Phenomenology Collective, we step into one of the most challenging—and often isolating—phases of phenomenological research: data analysis.

Without a step-by-step guide, researchers are left with rich, complex material and a deceptively simple question: what now? From transcripts and artefacts to meaning, interpretation, and insight, this episode explores what it means to truly work with data rather than simply process it.

We’re joined by doctoral researcher Liz Shaw, who shares an honest, in-the-moment account of being immersed in interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Together, we explore the tensions, uncertainties, and unexpected moments of discovery that come with dwelling deeply in data.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What “dwelling with data” really means in practice
• Why phenomenological analysis is slow, messy, and deeply relational
• The tension between researcher voice and participant voice
• Navigating uncertainty, doubt, and the feeling of being “lost”
• The discipline of staying anchored to your research question
• Why analysis is never truly finished—only paused

We also reflect on the emotional texture of this stage—where exhaustion and joy often sit side by side—and why that discomfort may be a sign that meaningful work is happening.

Whether you’re in the middle of your own analysis or preparing to begin, this episode offers reassurance that feeling uncertain isn’t a failure—it’s part of doing phenomenology well.