The phenomenon being studied in this report was, ôNegotiation of HIV preventive behaviors in divorced and separated women reentering the sexual arenaö and was clearly stated and delineated by the author (Rich, 2001). The author wanted to look at how women who had been in long-term monogamous relationships (10 years or longer) which had ended in separation or divorce handled discussing preventive measures against HIV and STDs with men once they resumed sexual activity after the breakup of their monogamous relationship.
The author explains why she used qualitative research by first justifying it on the grounds that, in an area where there has been little or no prior research, qualitative methodology can help the researcher from committing a type II error, but does not explain for those who are not familiar with qualitative methodology what a type II error is (27). She explains that qualitative methodology is used to describe and explain human activity in a ôholistic and realisticö manner. Her subject matter, according to Rich, has not been well explored in the literature to date, and she believed that qualitative methodology was well-suited to examining the complexity of the sexual reentry experience of these women.
Rich decided to use a phenomenological approach in studying the question of how women reentering the sexual arena after a long absence in a monogamous relationship handled negotiating preventive practices against HIV and STD infection (27). She states that phenomenologists view truth as being assessed through human subjectivity, and that subjective reports lend authenticity to experience and lead to an understanding of the phenomenon. Rich considered that her research sought a description of personal, subjective experiences in the world, and that these are best understood from the personÆs own perspective. To this extent, Rich describes the philosophy behind her research.
Rich feels her research i...