CANCELLED
Micro-phenomenology
April 5-9, 2020
Micro-phenomenology is a new scientific discipline enabling us to discover ordinary inaccessible dimensions of our lived experience and describe them accurately and reliably. The development of this "psychological microscope" opens vast fields of investigation in the educational, technological, clinical and therapeutic, as well as artistic and contemplative domains.
Micro-phenomenological interview training
What is micro-phenomenology?
Micro-phenomenology is a new scientific discipline that enables us to explore our lived experience very finely: what's happening when an idea comes to us? When suddenly a childhood memory comes back? When we feel sad, or on the contrary elated? When we listen to a piece of music, or taste a good wine? When we read a novel, or write a letter? These phenomena, which constitute the very texture of our existence, are difficult to describe, and have thus far been excluded from scientific investigation.
But recent research shows that we can learn to describe our experience very accurately and reliably, and discover its ordinarily inaccessible dimensions, through appropriate methods.
The development of this "psychological microscope" opens vast fields of investigation in the clinical and therapeutic, educational, technological, artistic and contemplative domains.
Micro-phenomenology was born out of the idea, advocated by the neurobiologist Francisco Varela in the context of his "neurophenomenological" program, that to understand the functioning of the mind, science cannot rely solely on the study of cerebral activity, but has to create a rigorous method to study human experience.
At his instigation, the "entretien d'explicitation", an interview method initially developed by Pierre Vermersch for pedagogical purposes and for analyzing professional practice, was adapted to research in cognitive sciences and supplemented by a method of analysis and validation of data, to become micro-phenomenology.
Objective of the training
For the purpose of a research project, the course is aimed at mastering the micro-phenomenological interview, a method enabling the researcher to collect fine-grained descriptions of the lived experience associated with a given sensorial, emotional or cognitive process, or with a specific expertise, in order to gather a corpus of accurate data that are relevant for the research objective.
Content of the training
Recognizing the satellite dimensions of experience
Knowing how to distinguish the descriptive elements from those that concern other levels of preoccupation (such as explanations and judgments), and piloting the interview in these different dimensions.
Guiding the evocation process
Guiding the interviewed persons from a general description towards the description of a singular experience, that is situated in space and time, and helping them to mobilize their concrete memory to evoke this experience.
Guiding the description of the diachronic and synchronic dimensions
Guiding the interviewed persons into the temporal fragmentation of the experience and the description of its cognitive, sensory, attentional and emotional dimensions.
Recognizing the clues of implicit information
Detecting verbal and non-verbal clues of implicit information in the interviewee's discourse and asking relevant questions.
Managing the relationship with the interviewee
Defining the framework and objective of the interview.
Knowing how to reformulate the interviewee's words.
Knowing how to create and maintain the conditions for good non-verbal communication with the interviewee.
Elements of auto-description
Elements of analysis of the descriptions
Identifying the diachronic and synchronic structures of the experiences, and detecting possible regularities (generic structures).
Benefits
The training process provides the support enabling one to acquire the necessary skills to lead Micro-phenomenological interviews and analyze them in a research context. Further, it builds competency towards the usage of the Micro-phenomenological method in conferences or articles presenting research results.
Upon successful completion of this training, an attestation of participation will be sent to each participant.
Learn more about Micro-phenomenology: www.microphenomenology.com
Instructor
Claire Petitmengin, after studies in Buddhist philosophy and then ten years of consulting and research in information systems design, completed her PhD thesis under the direction of Francisco Varela at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, on the subject of the lived experience which accompanies the emergence of an intuition. She is currently Professor Emerita at the Institut Mines-Télécom and member of the Archives Husserl (Ecole Normale Supérieure) in Paris. Her research focuses on the usually unrecognized micro-dynamics of lived experience and micro-phenomenological methods enabling us to become aware of it and describe it. She studies the epistemological conditions of these methods, their educational, therapeutic, artistic and contemplative applications, and the philosophical consequences of these empirical investigations.
REGISTRATION
Regular: CAD $1450 + taxes
Student (MA or PhD)*: CAD $750 + taxes
The registration fee includes lunch, coffee breaks and all materials.
*There are limited spaces for Student registrations. To receive the rate you will need to provide proof by emailing chrcs@concordia.ca with the following information: 1) University, 2) Program Name and 3) Student ID. A promo code to access the student registration rate will then be sent to you.
April 5 - 9, 2020
9:00 am - 6:00 pm daily
Concordia University Conference Centre
Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre, 2nd Floor, ROOM RF 325
7141 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC H4B 1R6
Participants are responsible for their own accomodations and their own transportation to and from the venue.
Visit our registration page for more information about discount rates at select hotels in Montreal.
Enrolment is limited. The deadline to register is March 15, 2020.
Note: CHRCS reserves the right to cancel the program if there is insufficient registration or if there is a situation that is out of CHRCS and Concordia University’s control. Attendees will be notified and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.
CHRCS will not refund your travel or lodging expenses so we suggest you make refundable travel arrangements. If applicable, it is your responsibility to obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance to cover the cost of any potential losses that may arise due to cancellation.
The amount paid minus a non refundable administration fee will be refunded for all cancellations received in writing by March 10, 2020. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received after that time. Please contact chrcs@concordia.ca in order to cancel your registration.