Husserlian Descriptive Phenomenology: A review of intentionality, reduction and the natural attitude
March 26, 2017 M. Christensen, A. Welch, Jennieffer A Barr
Descriptive phenomenology, rooted in Edmund Husserl's philosophy, is a method used in social science to explore and describe individuals' lived experiences. This methodology paper outlines its historical development and core principles: the natural attitude (everyday assumptions), intentionality (consciousness always being directed toward something), and the phenomenological reduction (bracketing preconceptions to focus on pure experience). Practical examples show how these principles apply in research. The paper aims to clarify these philosophical foundations for readers new to the method, making its key features as a research approach more accessible.