In this research an informant is defined as a cultural member who is knowledgeable about the topic under study within the cultural context in question. Key informants know a great deal about the workings of the cultural topic under question. The strategy is to find key informants, let them say what they know and listen carefully without bias, to what they have to say. This term refers to the study or science of experience and personal meaning. It also refers to a method of study, i.e., the direct observation of experience as expressed in speech and other communicative acts.
Phenomenological researchers rely upon accurate, unbiased listening and viewing.
They consciously attempt to set aside, prejudices, assumptions, biases and stereotypes in reference to the topic being studied. They employ research activities such as unbiased listening and recording personal stories, conversations and accounts, and make use of autobiographies, journals, filming and other texts. The phenomenological researcher learns about another culture by asking members of that culture to tell what their life is like in that culture. A good phenomenologist assumes that she does not know, and the best way to find out is to ask and listen to what the other has to say about what is going on with the topic in question.