title: Hermeneutic phenomenological analysis: the 'possibility' beyond 'actuality' in thematic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses the ways researchers may become open to manifold interpretations of lived experience through thematic analysis that follows the tradition of hermeneutic phenomenology.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Martin Heidegger's thinking about historical contexts of understandings and the notions of 'alētheia' and 'techne' disclose what he called meaning of lived experience, as the 'unchanging Being of changing beings'. While these notions remain central to hermeneutic phenomenological research, novice phenomenologists usually face the problem of how to incorporate these philosophical tenets into thematic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discussion paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  This discussion paper is based on our experiences of hermeneutic analysis supported by the writings of Heidegger. Literature reviewed for this paper ranges from 1927 - 2014. We draw on data from a study of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong to demonstrate how 'dwelling' in the language of participants' 'ek-sistence' supported us in a process of thematic analysis. Data were collected from December 2013 - February 2016.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses doing hermeneutic phenomenology have to develop self-awareness of one's own 'taken-for-granted' thinking to disclose the unspoken meanings hidden in the language of participants. Understanding the philosophical tenets of hermeneutic phenomenology allows nurses to preserve possibilities of interpretations in thinking. In so doing, methods of thematic analysis can uncover and present the structure of the meaning of lived experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide our readers with vicarious experience of how to begin cultivating thinking that is aligned with hermeneutic phenomenological philosophical tenets to conduct thematic analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ken H M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4934-2450
authors.initials: KHM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Vico C L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6973-7241
authors.initials: VCL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D066297:Hermeneutics; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability
keywords: heidegger; hermeneutic; language; nursing; ontology; phenomenology; qualitative analysis; qualitative research; techne; thematic analysis