The Contribution of Phenomenology to HRD Research

Phenomenology is an interpretive research methodology that has direct application to human resource development (HRD) because it helps explicate the essence of human experience. The authors argue that recognizing phenomenology as an integral methodology for HRD research is essential for the field to have a more complete understanding of the holistic nature and complexity of experiences that are relevant to HRD practice. This article reviews philosophical foundations of phenomenology that translate into a research methodology providing a distinctive contribution to the knowledge base of HRD. The application of research concepts based on the lifeworld perspective is explored with respect to guiding the phenomenological research process, using an illustrative example from one of the authors' research studies. The authors review the current state of phenomenological research in HRD and propose an agenda for future research in the field.