摘要：

Discusses the confused understandings of phenomenology and its value for the interpretation and practice of psychological research within the psychological community. Ten differentiations of phenomenology from other methods or concepts with which it shares characteristics are delineated. Phenomenology is defined as the study of the phenomena of the world as experienced by conscious beings and as method for studying such phenomena. A phenomenological analysis of a research situation is performed to demonstrate what is essential to it regardless of the theoretical perspective that a psychologist may hold, and whether or not a correct understanding of phenomenology as applied to psychology can meet the essential features of a research situation is considered. It is concluded that if this can be demonstrated, then the phenomenological perspective should have its place within psychological research so that it can be judged by its fruits rather than dismissed a priori because it appears, on the surface, to be different. (65 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

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