Phenomenology does not belong to empirical science or speculative research in a strict sense.
So at this level, phenomenology is attributed to qualitative research (because qualitative research itself belongs to the category of evidence-based research), and it is not accurate to compare with grounded theory because the two are not at the same level.
or phenomenology should be the theoretical basis of all qualitative research.
The ambition of phenomenology is a way to surpass any traditional paradigm in the past, and try to present the "fact" itself in all available ways. Therefore, phenomenological research will not be based on a specific process like grounded theory (such as three-level coding process or the latest research process of constructivism grounded theory), and its evidence will not only come from empirical materials but also be multidimensional.
for example, poetry, art, painting,? Fiction can be called a way of phenomenology to reveal phenomena, so it requires a higher theoretical foundation for researchers. Levinas once commented on phenomenology. "Because of giving up the description method, the composition of categories and the persistence of concepts, traditional speculative methods have skipped many research fields. The indisputable contribution of phenomenology is that it requires a systematic and patient, of course, only temporary description in the process of' returning to the fact itself'. Therefore, phenomenology is beneficial to both positivists and metaphysics. It is the inevitable starting point of any kind of idealism and realism, and it means the coordinates of thinking for all kinds of spirits. "