Aim To describe van Manen’s method and concept of reduction in a study that used a phenomenological hermeneutic approach.

Background Nurse researchers have used van Manen’s method in different ways. Participants’ lifeworlds are described in depth, but descriptions of reduction have been brief.

Data sources The literature and knowledge review and manual search of research articles.

Review methods Databases Web Science, PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO, without applying a time period, to identify uses of van Manen’s method.

Discussion This paper shows how van Manen’s method has been used in nursing research and gives some examples of van Manen’s reduction.

Conclusion Reduction enables us to conduct in-depth phenomenological hermeneutic research and understand people’s lifeworlds.

Implications for research/practice As there are many variations in adapting reduction, it is complex and confusing. This paper contributes to the discussion of phenomenology, hermeneutic study and reduction. It opens up reduction as a method for researchers to exploit.