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Structuring sensory experiences

Institute for First-Person Research (IEPF)

Subjective experience as a field of research

The Institute for First-Person Research systematically investigates people’s inner experiences and makes this knowledge applicable to practical contexts.

It fills a gap in research by positing that people are not merely part of the world, but construct their own world. People feel, perceive and relate both to themselves and to their environment.

To date, the specific characteristics of individual experience have been little researched. The Institute develops methods to better understand human experience. In doing so, it focuses on the structuring of sensory experiences, processes of reflection, acts of volition, emotions, the perception of the external world and other people.

First-person research can thus contribute to the study of psychotherapeutic processes and other learning and experiential processes. It also investigates the conditions under which people act as responsible ethical agents.

Partner departments

The IEPF collaborates with the following departments at UW/H:

Research into consciousness and self-regulation

The Institute’s research covers the following four main areas of focus.

Methodology development and basic research

Shedding light on blind spots – reconstructing preconscious processes

Becoming the Captain of Your Soul – Understanding self-management

Empowering Others – Developing Professional Empathy

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Publications

All publications by the Institute for First-Person Research at UW/H are gradually being included in the university bibliography.

University Bibliography

Self-reflection in academic teaching

The Institute offers courses that cover the key methodological and thematic areas of first-person research. This content is reinforced through practical exercises and self-exploration. These include courses with individual or small-group supervision, as well as guided formats in which students work independently on specific topics in small groups using written guidance, and contribute their observations to further explore the course content. In their final-year dissertations, students can systematically explore both questions arising from basic research and personal topics. Doctoral theses in this field are also possible.

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Conference on First-Person Research

The International Conference on First-Person Research takes place every two years. As well as providing a platform for international experts to discuss various aspects of first-person research, a forum for student contributions offers a space for newcomers to exchange ideas.

Self-reflection in a business context

Conflicts in interpersonal collaboration can sometimes stem from a lack of self-awareness: where do my strengths and weaknesses lie, where do I misjudge myself or assess the situation one-sidedly? A systematic approach to fostering self-awareness can therefore also be valuable in this area. We help organisations to foster a culture of self-reflection. This is achieved in three steps:

  • An introductory session in which basic techniques of self-observation are explained.
  • Guides to self-observation, which employees carry out independently over several weeks, whilst reflecting on their experiences in small teams. We have agreed on company-specific requirements for the development of these guides with your organisation in advance.
  • A joint final reflection session to bring together the outcomes of the teamwork.

 

Please feel free to contact us if you are interested:

Prof. Ulrich Weger

Team