Phenomenology

Phenomenology arose at the end of the 19th century, was first formalized by Edmund Husserl, and was developed as a branch of philosophy with close ties to the emerging discipline of psychology.

Psychology has largely gone on to become subsumed into the social sciences, but Freud initially took a fairly phenomenological approach, and phenomenological approaches to psychology are still used today (cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example, in broad terms uses a phenomenological approach). 

The basic suggestion of Husserl was that we should pay more attention to the phenomena (hence phenomenology) in our consciousnesses.   Otherwise, we  tend todevelop grand theories which often negate the conclusions we would reach if we studied phenomena more closely.

Phenomena are what we are aware of when we contemplate our inner thoughts and thought processes.

Husserl suggested that we study these phenomena closely, without worrying too much about what they stand for; to take them as capable of giving us insights about who and what we are and how we interact with others and the world around us. 

Husserl was initially aimed at solving some classic philosophical problems such as whether and how we know anything (epistemology) in his development of phenomenology .  

Phenomenological Method

There are many phenomenological methods used, depending on the area in which the method is applied and the theoretical interests of the person who developed the method. 

Typical phenomenological methods:

- Qualitative rather than quantitative;

- Paying close attention to experience and mental processes in oneself and/or in others, without taking account of the realities lying behind those experiences and mental processes;

- Suspending judgement, and putting aside theories and preconceptions, in order to allow experience and mental processes to be perceived without filtering them or obliterating them - in order to allow us to perceive the actuality of what is;

- Looking at what is unique and what is shared among others in experience;

- Examining our biases and preconceptions, to try to eliminate or minimize them so that unfiltered experience shines through;

- The point of view is always subjective rather than objective;

- Trying to directly enter into others' experience, while suspending our own point of view.

 Source:
 http://www.metamarketing.org.uk/phenomenology_business.htm