Épistémologie de recherche et dynamique psychique. Réflexion à l’occasion d’une recherche sur l’expérience de la greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques

Background and objectives

In the context of our doctoral research dealing with patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant, we would like to present our analysis on epistemology and methodology when it comes to comprehending experiences, as opposed to events, from a psychoanalytical perspective.

Method

We will present some aspects of the “symbolizing research design” implemented to comprehend the psychological reality of people who have to face the highly complex experience of HSC transplant. This is a longitudinal study based on nondirective research interviews considered as fully intersubjective encounters, which were conducted out of the hospital, and were subjected to qualitative inductive analysis.

Results

The research design has brought to light the participants’ specific psychological dynamics, based on the central concept of “circulation”, and implying strong psychological processuality. This specific psychological dynamics refers to the process of subjectification, which consists in including their experience in a network and in an ongoing process, and in constantly building themselves as subjects.

Conclusions

Importantly, the results are inseparable from our epistemological and methodological approach: the specific features of our research design resulted in identifying and analyzing a processual dimension that is seldom studied. As a result, the very method and reflexivity of psychoanalytical researchers set the ground for renewed perspectives and an expanded scope in psychoanalysis.