This article substantiates the application of the author's visual-intuitive research method, called "phenomenological immersion," to the study of Russian local communities. This method was developed based on the author's fieldwork practices, conducted since 2013. The theoretical basis of the method is the phenomenological sociology of A. Schütz, the concept of the "lifeworld" of J. Habermas, and the developments of visual sociology. According to A. Schütz, everyday life encompasses the maximum possible manifestations of the social. Therefore, direct observation of the everyday life/lifeworld of local communities is considered in this article as a sociological tool that will significantly complement sociological methodologies, especially in terms of studying the general and specific sociocultural characteristics of Russian regions. When identifying the sociocultural characteristics of regions and local communities within a single country (as opposed to cross-national studies), the subtle nuances of social reality are of decisive importance. These nuances can be determined precisely through studying the living environment, for which this method appears to be the most effective. It also provides opportunities for adjusting guidelines for classical qualitative research and more adequately evaluating statistical data. The author provides examples from his personal experience of fieldwork in Russian regions, demonstrating how this method can be used to formulate hypotheses, adjust data from other sources, and amend research programs and working materials. Visual sociology is a significant component of this method, but is not entirely identical to it, as the role of photography is different here. It is not an object or a research tool, but a means of conveying non-formalized data, which is why it is always combined with verbal descriptions. Moreover, unlike non-photographic visual methods, direct observation is not auxiliary but fundamental. The method has significant limitations, such as subjectivity, difficulties in communicating the obtained data, and the complexity of training researchers for the work. However, these can be overcome to some extent, primarily by using the method not in isolation, but in conjunction with other qualitative research methods.

Russia, sociology, phenomenology, regions, sociocultural characteristics, local communities, visual analysis, participant observation

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