Learning from the 'lifeworld'

The term 'phenomenology' is perhaps not well understood by those less involved in qualitative research. It has developed and diversified to encompass a bewildering array of different traditions and methods. This article provides a whistle-stop tour of its history, key figures and applications in psychology. Leading qualitative psychologists then explain the particular ways in which they understand and draw upon the principles of phenomenology and apply these in their own work. Phenomenological psychology may be thought of as an umbrella term encompassing a variety of rich and useful approaches, and this article showcases just some of the ways in which a phenomenological stance is being used by qualitative psychologists in the UK today.