What best describes a phenomenological approach in research?

A phenomenological approach in research is fundamentally centered on understanding and interpreting human experiences as they are perceived subjectively by individuals. This method prioritizes the meanings that people assign to their experiences, emphasizing personal perspective over detached observation. By listening to participants and allowing their narratives to shape the research findings, phenomenology seeks to reveal how individuals make sense of their lived experiences.

This approach contrasts sharply with the other options, which focus on objective measurements and observable phenomena. The emphasis on quantifiable data and numerical analysis found in the alternatives reflects a more positivist paradigm, which seeks to define reality through measurable, observable facts. In a phenomenological study, however, the richness of subjective experience is seen as critical, capturing the depth and nuance of human thoughts and feelings that cannot be easily quantified.