Date
4-7-2026
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Alexandra Barnett
Keywords
phenomenology, biting, childcare, policies, perception, decision-making
Disciplines
Education | Educational Leadership
Recommended Citation
Borszich, Sarah Elizabeth, "Biting Hurts: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study of Childcare Stakeholders’ Experience When Toddlers Bite in North Texas" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8031.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8031
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of participating in decision-making responses following biting incidents for key childcare stakeholders at licensed childcare centers in Northeast Texas. At this stage in the research, lived experiences of participating in decision-making responses following biting incidents were generally defined as integrated processes, perceptions, or actions taken by childcare stakeholders when engaging in decision-making after a biting incident in a childcare setting. The theories guiding this study were social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) and sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978). The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of responding to and participating in decision-making following biting incidents in licensed childcare centers in Northeast Texas, as described by childcare stakeholders? A transcendental phenomenological study design was used to examine the shared experiences of 12 childcare stakeholders through individual interviews, focus groups, and primary document review. Data were analyzed using first and second-cycle coding procedures to identify significant statements and emergent themes. Qualitative analysis procedures were used to examine the interrelationships between focused codes and emergent themes to identify a shared description of the lived experience of childcare professionals surrounding the biting phenomenon in licensed childcare centers. Findings revealed three major themes: communication, empathy, and collaboration. These themes reflected how stakeholders constructed meaning, responded to challenges, and interacted within their social contexts. Stakeholders experienced biting incidents as emotionally charged events shaped by communication practices, empathetic understanding, collaborative relationships, individual beliefs, and broader social and policy systems.
