"Bracketing" in phenomenology: Renouncing assumptions in hearing about student cheating

The suspension of presuppositions (the epoche, or bracketing) arose historically as part of Husserl's "transcendental reduction," allowing the contemplation of detached consciousness. Merleau-Ponty interpreted Husserl's later work in an existentialist way, and bracketing became the resolve to set aside theories, research presuppositions, ready-made interpretations etc., in order to reveal engaged, lived experience. The focus of this paper is on research practice, and on the quest for entry into the life-world of the research participant. The role of bracketing is illustrated by the way in which an aspect of the life-world of students in higher education ("cheating") is revealed.