Phenomenological social science: Research in the public interest

This article analyzes the impact of phenomenology on social research. Central to phenomenological social science is the idea of “epistemic participation,” which allows knowledge to be understood in terms of its existential character. Research that is conducted with this aim generates data that reflect the public's interests. Such methodological sensitivity increases the validity of data and the social relevance of policy research. Thus it is argued that policy studies might be improved if they were phenomenologically informed.