Nonreactive research: An alternative measurement to social phenomenological approach

Abstract

Every research aims to identify or provide a solution to a predefined problem. This is often done through systematic investigation of a problem in question. The central theme of this paper is to critically examine the intellectual contributions to the significance of nonreactive research in the social phenomenological approach. The work reviews some works of literature on measurements or instruments of data collection for research purposes. It argues that reactive measurements such as questionnaires and interviews played a domineering role in phenomenological studies. However, the weakness associated with such measures in an understanding phenomenon often affects the reliability and validity of the research owing to the manners in which the research participant practically react to the measures. The application of nonreactive measurements became imperative in complementing these reactive or obtrusive measures as it did not only creates room for more reliable data but ensures that behaviours of research subjects do not change in the course of an investigation or when gathering data. The work, therefore, concludes that theoretical underpinning suggesting nonreactive or unobtrusive measures in pragmatically understanding people’s perception about an event is not to completely jettison the reactive measurements but served as a remedy associated with methodological weakness of reactive measures in comprehending social phenomenon.