ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe phenomenology, a research approach that allows for investigating the human experience at a fundamental level, seeking the essence of lived experiences as it is for several individuals; in short, phenomenologists want to know about the very structures of consciousness. They also explore different forms of studying lived experiences that have emerged from or away from phenomenology, including transcendental phenomenology, hermeneutic phenomenology and phenomenography. Phenomenology was founded by Husserl, who argued that consciousness was an important concept and proposed the study of lived experience or the life world. Phenomenography can be traced to Heidegger’s phenomenology, although it was initially developed to understand the phenomena of teaching and learning in a coherent way. Phenomenology assumes that knowledge is rooted in experience. This approach allows for intentionally gaining understanding of the lived experience of others as it is. Finally, the authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of phenomenology as an approach.
