Final answer:
The research method that describes experiences as they are lived is called phenomenology. It differs from ethnography by concentrating on individual experiences rather than cultural or social participant observations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The research method that describes experiences as they are lived is called phenomenology. Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that focuses on understanding human experiences through the detailed description of people's lived experience. By relying on the accounts of individuals who are experiencing the phenomenon of interest, phenomenology aims to gain insight into the essence of that experience, offering a means to deeply explore individuals' subjective perceptions and feelings about their world.
While approaches like ethnography involve the researcher immersing themselves in the natural setting of a social community to observe and participate in the culture, phenomenology specifically seeks to comprehend how individuals experience phenomena within their life-world. Phenomenology differs from ethnography as it concentrates more on the individual's experience and consciousness rather than on participant observation within a cultural or social context.