Preliminary Thoughts (Paper sample) - brain dump

______________________ PLACEHOLDER____________________________________

ABSTRACT

Background: Understanding user experiences in immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR) requires examining perceptual, emotional, and sociocultural dimensions. Phenomenology offers a robust framework to analyze how users interpret and derive meaning from interactions with virtual environments.

Objective: To systematically review phenomenological methodologies applied to immersive technology research, identifying theoretical frameworks, data collection techniques, and analytical strategies that capture users' lived experiences.

Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted across IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, PubMed, and PsycINFO (2015–2025). Studies employing phenomenological approaches to immersive tech experiences were included. Thematic synthesis was performed using NVivo to map methodological patterns.

Results:

Conclusions:

Keywords: Immersive technologies, phenomenological methods, virtual reality, mixed reality, lived experience, human-computer interaction.

 

_______________________________PLACEHOLDER___________________________ 

What ARE my criteria for screening papers?

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Understand PRISMA:

What it is:

PRISMA stands for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. It's a set of guidelines to improve the transparency and completeness of reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Key Components:

• PRISMA Checklist: A 27-item checklist to guide the reporting of systematic reviews. 

• PRISMA Flow Diagram: A visual representation of the study selection process, showing the flow of records through the review. https://estech.shinyapps.io/prisma_flowdiagram/

• Familiarize yourself with the PRISMA statement:

Read the official PRISMA statement and the PRISMA flow diagram to understand the guidelines and what to include in your report. 

2. Plan Your Systematic Review:

• Formulate a clear research question: Define the question your review will address.
• Develop a protocol: Outline your methods for searching, selecting, and analyzing studies.
• Specify inclusion and exclusion criteria: Clearly define which studies will be included and excluded in your review.
• Identify information sources: Determine which databases, registers, and other sources you will search. 

3. Conduct the Review:

• Search for studies: Use your search strategy to identify relevant studies in databases and other sources. 
• Screen and select studies: Review abstracts and full texts to determine which studies meet your inclusion criteria. 
• Extract data: Systematically extract relevant data from the selected studies. 
• Assess study quality: Evaluate the quality and risk of bias in the included studies. 
• Synthesize findings: Analyze and synthesize the data from the selected studies. 

4. Report Your Findings:

• Follow the PRISMA checklist: Use the 27-item checklist to guide your reporting. 
• Create a PRISMA flow diagram: Depict the flow of studies through the different phases of your review. 
• Write a comprehensive report: Include all relevant information, such as your research question, methods, results, and discussion.

 

______________________SAMPLE ONLY - TO BE REVISED THOROUGHLY _________________

 

Title

"Phenomenological Methodologies in Immersive Technologies: A Systematic Review of Approaches to Capturing Lived Experiences"

 

Abstract

 

1        Introduction

Immersive technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), have rapidly evolved over the past decade, transforming how individuals interact with digital environments (Benaben et al., 2025). These technologies provide users with immersive, multisensory experiences that blur the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces, offering new opportunities across diverse domains such as healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and industrial training [ref here]. As these systems become increasingly integrated into everyday life, understanding the human experiences they elicit is critical for advancing their design and implementation [ref here].

Phenomenology, as a philosophical framework, offers a powerful lens through which to explore the lived experiences of individuals engaging with immersive technologies (Kelly et al., 2023; Triberti et al., 2025). Grounded in the works of Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Amedeo Giorgi, phenomenology seeks to uncover the essence of experiences by focusing on subjective perspectives (Neubauer et al., 2019). Adapted as qualitative methodologies in research, phenomenological approaches are particularly suited to studying immersive technologies due to their experiential nature [ref here]. These methods allow researchers to capture the depth and complexity of user interactions, emotional responses, and cognitive engagement within virtual environments [ref here].

Despite extensive research on technology use across various domains, the application of phenomenological methodologies to immersive technologies remains underexplored [ref here]. This review seeks to address this gap by synthesizing existing studies that employ phenomenological approaches to investigate VR, AR, and MR environments [ref here]. By doing so, it aims to evaluate the viability of these methodologies in understanding user experiences and inform future research directions in this rapidly evolving field [ref here].

 

1.1     Context

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1.2     Research Gap

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1.3     Objective

This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research on phenomenological experiences within mixed reality (MR) environments to establish a foundational understanding of how immersive technologies mediate human interactions, cognition, and sensory engagement. By analyzing qualitative and interdisciplinary studies, the review seeks to identify emergent themes in user experiences—such as spatial awareness, emotional responses, and ethical considerations—across applications in healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and industrial training. The objective is to map the current landscape of MR research, highlighting gaps in understanding how real-time data integration and simulated environments influence human behaviour and decision-making. Through this synthesis, the review will provide insights to guide future investigations into understudied applications of immersive systems, particularly those requiring dynamic, context-aware simulations. The findings aim to inform both theoretical frameworks and practical design principles for advancing MR technologies in ways that prioritize user-centred experiences and ethical implementation.

 

2        Methods

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to ensure methodological rigor and transparency. Eight databases—IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Springer Nature Link, and Sage Journals—were systematically queried for potential studies. Search terms included combinations of keywords such as ("mixed reality" OR "virtual reality" OR "immersive technology") AND ("phenomenological" OR "lived experience"). Inclusion criteria were studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2015 and 2024 that explored phenomenological approaches or qualitative perspectives on immersive technologies, focusing on user experiences, cognitive engagement, and emotional responses. Studies were excluded if they did not provide primary qualitative data or if their focus was unrelated to immersive environments. This systematic approach ensures comprehensive identification of relevant literature to address the review’s objectives.

2.1     Protocol

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2.2     Eligibility Criteria

Define inclusion/exclusion criteria:

·         Studies must explicitly use phenomenological methodologies.

·         Focus on immersive technologies (VR, AR, MR). Mainly MR

·         Exclude studies without qualitative data collection methods.

 

The eligibility criteria for this systematic review were defined to ensure the inclusion of studies most relevant to the research objectives. Studies were included if they explicitly employed phenomenological methodologies to explore user attitudes or lived experiences. The focus of eligible studies was required to be on immersive technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Only studies that utilized qualitative data collection methods, such as interviews, focus groups, or thematic analysis, were considered. Studies were excluded if they did not use phenomenological approaches or if their methodology relied solely on quantitative data collection methods, such as surveys or experimental measurements. Additionally, studies that did not directly investigate immersive technologies or those published outside the specified date range (2015–2024) were excluded. These criteria were designed to ensure the inclusion of high-quality research that aligns with the review’s aim of synthesizing phenomenological insights into immersive technology experiences.

2.3     Search Strategy

Describe databases searched (e.g., IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, PubMed).

• IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library (technology-focused)
• PubMed, PsycINFO (qualitative/phenomenological studies)
• Scopus, Web of Science (broad interdisciplinary coverage)Provide full search strings:

In alignment with the PRISMA 2020 framework, a detailed and systematic search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies across eight key databases: IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Springer Nature Link, and Sage Journals. The search focused on studies exploring phenomenological approaches or lived experiences in the context of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and related immersive technologies. Specific search strings were tailored to each database to maximize the retrieval of relevant literature while adhering to database-specific syntax and filters.

For IEEE Xplore, the query (("All Metadata":"mixed reality" OR "All Metadata":"virtual reality") AND ("All Metadata":"phenomenological" OR "All Metadata":"lived experience")) was used, yielding 25 results after applying filters for publication years 2015–2024. ScienceDirect produced 1,266 results using the string (("phenomenological" OR "lived experience") AND ("virtual reality" OR "mixed reality")), with the same publication year filter applied. Similarly, ACM Digital Library returned 173 results for [All: phenomenological] AND [All: "mixed reality"] with an e-publication date range of 2015–2025.

In Scopus, a more comprehensive query—TITLE-ABS-KEY ("phenomenological approach" OR "lived experience") AND ("virtual reality" OR "augmented reality" OR "mixed reality" OR "immersive technology") AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026—yielded 594 documents. PubMed utilized the string (("phenomenological"[Title/Abstract] OR "lived experience"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("virtual reality"[Title/Abstract] OR "mixed reality"[Title/Abstract] OR "immersive technology"[Title/Abstract])), resulting in 65 articles. Wiley Online Library retrieved 343 results for "phenomenological" anywhere AND "mixed reality" anywhere AND "virtual reality" anywhere.

Springer Nature Link provided 186 results using "phenomenological" AND "mixed reality", while Sage Journals returned 1,490 results for "phenomenological" AND "virtual reality" OR "mixed reality". Across all databases, filters such as publication date ranges (2015–2024/2025) were applied to ensure relevance to contemporary research. These tailored search strategies and documented results ensure transparency and reproducibility in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

 

("phenomenological approach" OR "lived experience") AND ("virtual reality" OR "augmented reality" OR "mixed reality")

2.4     Screening Process

• Explain how duplicates were removed, titles/abstracts screened, and full texts reviewed.

2.5     Data Extraction

• Detail how data were extracted (e.g., methods used, sample sizes, philosophical frameworks).

2.6     Quality Assessment

• Use tools like CASP or other qualitative appraisal checklists.

3        Results

A total of # studies were identified

3.1     PRISMA Flow Diagram

• Include a diagram showing:
• Total records retrieved
• Duplicates removed
• Records excluded after title/abstract screening
• Full-text articles reviewed
• Final included studies

3.2     Study Characteristics

Summarize key details in a table format:

Study ID	Phenomenological Framework	Data Collection Methods	Immersive Tech Used	Key Themes
Smith_2022	Hermeneutic	Interviews	VR	Embodiment

 

3.3     Methods Used to Capture Lived Experiences

• Highlight common methods:
• In-depth interviews
• Diaries or journals
• Participant observation
• Photovoice or visual elicitation techniques

3.4     Philosophical Frameworks

• Discuss frameworks like:
• Husserlian descriptive phenomenology
• Heideggerian hermeneutics
• Merleau-Ponty’s embodied phenomenology

4        Discussion

4.1     What Makes a Study Phenomenological?

Discuss core characteristics:

• Bracketing researcher assumptions
• Focus on intentionality (how participants experience phenomena)
• Use of qualitative data collection methods aligned with phenomenology.

4.2     Methods for Capturing Lived Experiences

• Analyze the strengths and limitations of various methods (e.g., interviews provide depth but may lack ecological validity compared to participant observation).

4.3     Implications for Immersive Technology Research

• Explore how these methods can be applied to study user interactions with VR/AR/MR systems.

Initially, in the search the full spectrum of the extended reality (XR) technologies was queried however, there is a distinction between them. MR is selected as it is a mixture of the physical and digital worlds blended together. VR is fully occluded and it was the dominant immersive technology that had to be weaned off in the exclusion criteria

4.4     Strengths and Limitations of This Review

• Strengths: Comprehensive search strategy, focus on methodological rigour.
• Limitations: Potential bias due to language restrictions or database selection.

5        Conclusion

• Summarize key findings:
• "Phenomenological studies rely on methods like interviews, diaries, and participant observation to capture lived experiences."
• "These approaches are essential for understanding user interactions with immersive technologies."
• Suggest future directions:
• Development of hybrid methodologies combining phenomenology with emerging tools like biometric tracking or AI-assisted analysis.

6        References

Use BibTeX for automated citation management in Overleaf.

Benaben, F., Congès, A., & Fertier, A. (2025). A prospective vision of the evolution of immersive technologies: Towards a definition of metaverse. Technovation, 140, 103154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2024.103154

Kelly, N. J., Hallam, J., & Bignell, S. (2023). Using interpretative phenomenological analysis to gain a qualitative understanding of presence in virtual reality. Virtual Reality, 27(2), 1173–1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-022-00719-2

Neubauer, B. E., Witkop, C. T., & Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspectives on Medical Education, 8(2), 90–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-019-0509-2

Triberti, S., Sapone, C., & Riva, G. (2025). Being there but where? Sense of presence theory for virtual reality applications. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04380-3

 

 ______________________END OF SAMPLE PAPER _________________________________

 

***NOTES***

There are a lot more methods that are being employed which may be considered unconventional. So everything goes I suppose

 

Appendix Search

 

Search	PubMed	Items Found
#1	"phenomenological"[Title/Abstract] OR "lived experience"[Title/Abstract]	35,471
#2	"virtual reality"[Title/Abstract] OR "mixed reality"[Title/Abstract] OR "immersive technology"[Title/Abstract]	23,722
#3	#1 AND #2	1,678
#4	"mixed reality"[Title/Abstract]	1,468
#5	#1 AND #3	6

 

 

Search	ScienceDirect	Items Found
#1	(“phenomenological” OR “lived experience”)	28,731
#2	("virtual reality" OR "mixed reality")	12,510
#3	#1 AND #2	44
#4	("mixed reality")	811
#5	#1 AND #5	3

 

 

Search	IEEE Xplore	Items Found
#1	("All Metadata":"mixed reality" OR "All Metadata":"virtual reality")	49,013
#2	("All Metadata":"phenomenological" OR "All Metadata":"lived experience")	3,331
#3	#1 AND #2	36
#4	("All Metadata":"mixed reality")	4,276
#5	#2 AND #4	3

 

 

Search	SAGE Journals (Open Access Only) Jan 2015 to Dec 2025	Items Found
#1	“mixed reality” OR “virtual reality”	7,883
#2	"phenomenological" OR "lived experience"	29,275
#3	#1 AND #2	150
#4	“mixed reality”	963
#5	#1 AND #4 (Open Access only)	11

 

Search	ACM Digital Library	Items Found
#1	[All: "phenomenological"] OR [All: "lived experience"] AND [E-Publication Date: (01/01/2015 TO 31/12/2025)]	3,153
#2	[All: "virtual reality"] OR [All: "mixed reality"] OR [All: "immersive technology"] AND [E-Publication Date: (01/01/2015 TO 31/12/2025)]	21,172
#3	#1 AND #2	656
#4	[All: "mixed reality"] AND [E-Publication Date: (01/01/2015 TO 31/12/2025)]	4,994
#5	[All: "phenomenological"] OR [All: "lived experience"] AND [All: "mixed reality"] AND [E-Publication Date: (01/01/2015 TO 31/12/2025)]	273

 

Search	Spinger Nature Link	Items Found
#1	"phenomenological" OR "lived experiences"	72
#2	"mixed reality" OR "virtual reality" OR "immersive technology"	2,017
#3	#1 AND #2 (with filters: Research Articles, virtual and augmented realty, phenomenology (open access)	63
#4	“mixed reality”	508
#5	#1 AND #4	17

 

Search	Wiley	Items Found
#1	""phenomenological" OR "lived experience"" in Abstract	5,436
#2	""virtual reality" OR "mixed reality" OR "immersive technology"" in Abstract	2,860
#3	""phenomenological" OR "lived experience"" in Abstract and ""virtual reality" OR "mixed reality" OR "immersive technology"" in Abstract	9

 

 

 

Search	SCOPUS	Items Found
#1	TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "phenomenological approach" OR "lived experience" ) AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026 AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026	41,386
#2	TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "virtual reality" OR "mixed reality" OR "immersive technology" ) AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026 AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026	117,536
#3	#1 AND #2	539
#4	TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "mixed reality" ) AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026 AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026	10,034
#5	TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "phenomenological" ) AND ( "mixed reality" ) AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026 AND PUBYEAR > 2015 AND PUBYEAR < 2026   Open Access only	49

 

 

Duplicates 9

Even when “mixed reality” was used as a searched keyword, it did not necessarily mean that it was the sole immersive technology used for the study

By integrating phenomenological inquiry with real-time data dynamics, your framework will advance both academic understanding and practical applications of MR digital twins.

 I will need to expand my database search but also narrow it down by fleshing out thoroughly my inclusion and exclusion criteria.